FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Thursday, May 20, 2023 

Media Contact: media@theyoungcenter.org 

Washington D.C.— Today, federal Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas will hear oral arguments regarding the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The oral arguments come after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Judge Hanen’s ruling stopping first-time DACA applications from being processed. The Fifth Circuit then sent the case back to the lower court to determine the legality of President Biden’s final rule intended to fortify DACA. 

Erika Andiola, Communications Director at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and DACA recipient, said: 

"Judge Hanen has already proven through his past rulings where he stands on DACA. He previously ruled to tear DACA away from tens of thousands of people who were eligible to apply but whose lives were yet again put on pause by the courts. While a decision in this case will not come today, Judge Hanen could issue his decision any time after oral arguments and could rule to end DACA as we know it. 

For many people, including some who came to the U.S. as unaccompanied children, DACA has been a lifeboat that’s provided critical, albeit temporary, relief, including access to 2-year work permits and protection from detention and deportation. Ripping these protections away, in the absence of permanent protection from Congress, will put hundreds of thousands of people at risk of deportation and countless families at risk of being separated. If Judge Hanen rules to end DACA following today’s oral arguments, the Biden Administration must be prepared to unapologetically defend DACA recipients like me and the thousands of people who were shut out from the program.

Enough is enough. How many more court rulings will it take for our leaders to finally step up and deliver permanent protections and stability for people like me who have had to live our lives on the whims of anti-immigrant judges? Congress and President Biden must deliver on their promises once and for all.” 

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The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a non-profit organization that protects and advances the rights and best interests of immigrant children and advocates for an immigration system that treats children as children first. For press inquiries, please contact Anabel Mendoza at media@theyoungcenter.org