On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, a District of Columbia federal District Court judge issued an order vacating the decision to rescind the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program and requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue to accept and process both new and renewal DACA applications. In doing so, the Court found fault with DHS’s offered justification for rescinding DACA – that the program was unlawful – without further explaining a legal basis for the agency’s conclusion.
The Court stayed its order for 90 days, giving DHS an opportunity to better explain its rescission decision. If DHS does not articulate a valid reason for rescinding DACA within 90 days, the DACA program will be restored in its entirety. Although two earlier preliminary injunctions require DHS to continue accepting and processing DACA renewals, this most recent order, if it becomes effective, will permit the filing of new applications for DACA benefits, where only renewals are currently being processed.
If the original DACA program is restored in 90 days, DHS will be required to resume accepting initial DACA applications and related applications for advance parole.
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