HIAS Applauds SC Decision on DACA, Calls on Congress to Act

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Today, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s 2017 decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was unlawful. 

First implemented by the Obama Administration in 2012, DACA has allowed nearly 700,000 young DREAMers — individuals brought to the United States without legal immigration status as children — to buy homes, raise families, build careers, join the military, and attend college. Their futures have remained uncertain, however, due to the Trump administration’s efforts to end the program and Congress’ failure to pass a law to permanently protect DREAMers. With the Supreme Court’s decision, DACA recipients can stop living in fear of deportation, at least for now. 

In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Melanie Nezer, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at HIAS said, “We must restore basic fairness and humanity to the way we treat immigrants and refugees. DACA does that by recognizing recipients for who they are: Americans in everything but paperwork. While we applaud the Supreme Court’s decision, these kids and young adults still await action by Congress that will provide them with permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship. These are our neighbors, family, and friends; they contribute to our communities in countless ways. We are in the midst of a heartbreaking and transformational time for our country. Now is the time for Congress to act.”

As our country battles COVID-19, nearly 27,000 DACA recipients have been on the frontlines at healthcare professionals, and thousands of others are part of the essential workforce. According to polls, 85 percent of Americans support legal status for DREAMers.

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