***For Immediate Release***
September 14, 2023
Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 x116
sierrasp@neappleseed.org
Harmful and Unnecessary Limbo Highlighted by Texas Judge’s Ruling Against DACA (Again)
Nebraska families, employers, and whole communities continue to live with instability and uncertainty due to decades of Congressional inaction
LINCOLN, NE — Yesterday, Judge Hanen of Texas released his latest decision, predictably ruling against DACA. It is disappointing but not unexpected. Please note, however, Judge Hanen’s decision does not change current DACA community members’ ability to retain and renew their DACA.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was established in 2012 through the hard work of many young immigrant leaders and community members – after Congress had failed for a decade to pass the bipartisan DREAM Act. DACA has ensured Nebraska communities can continue to benefit from the talents and contributions of immigrant community members who grew up in local communities and call Nebraska home.
DACA was designed to be a temporary solution to allow Congress more time to fix outdated immigration laws that are causing unnecessary harm to local families, employers, and whole communities. Tragically, yet another decade has now passed without Congressional action, leaving Nebraskans living in uncertainty.
Nebraska Appleseed Immigrants & Communities Program Director Darcy Tromanhauser issued the following statement in response:
“This decision is yet another reminder of the painful and unnecessary limbo longtime community members, families, neighbors, employers – all of us – live in because Congress has failed to fix our harmfully outdated immigration laws for more than 37 years. DACA alone is not enough – and was in fact designed to give Congress a little more time to act.
Every step in this court case is another cruel game played with the lives of parents, children, friends, and coworkers that is completely unnecessary. Congress has the power and responsibility to fix this and must pass permanent solutions that create a way for longtime community members to apply for residency and citizenship.”
To be clear: There are no changes to the status quo. New applications are still blocked and we encourage current DACA community members to continue renewing their DACA.
Background: The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created in 2012. A temporary program requiring renewal every two years, DACA grants work permits and safety from deportation for young people who arrived in the United States before June 15, 2007 – many of whom are no longer young and who are part of the fabric of local families, workplaces, and communities. The original DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001. It has been 37 years since Congress has taken meaningful action to fix harmfully outdated U.S. immigration laws.
###