Politics & Government

Texas Judge Rules DACA Unlawful; Blocks New Applicants

The ruling does not affect current recipients of the program, which protects children brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents.

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DACA recipients and their supporters rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court on June 18, 2020 in Washington, D.C. A federal judge this week deemed the Obama-era program "unlawful" and instructed DHS to stop accepting new applications to the program.
DACA recipients and their supporters rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court on June 18, 2020 in Washington, D.C. A federal judge this week deemed the Obama-era program "unlawful" and instructed DHS to stop accepting new applications to the program. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

A federal judge on Friday halted the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, declaring the program that protects immigrant children brought to the United States illegally as unlawful.

In a 77-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen instructed the Department of Homeland Security to no longer accept new applicants into the program, which currently grants work permits and protection from deportation to more than 600,000 young immigrants. Hanen also ruled that DHS may continue to process DACA renewals as the issue moves through the courts.

President Joe Biden on Saturday called the decision "deeply disappointing." He also said the Department of Justice would appeal the decision.

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