A reprieve, at least for now, for the thousands of immigrants who came to the United States as children. On Thursday morning, the United States Supreme Court, in a 5-4 vote, ruled against the Trump Administration, saying the protections for 650,000 young immigrants cannot immediately be removed.
President Trump wants the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, more commonly known as DACA, repealed. DACA was put in place by President Barack Obama via Executive Order. It protected immigrants, who were brought to this country as children, from deportation, while allowing them to continue working.
The High Court’s ruling is a major hit to the President, who campaigned on ending DACA, calling it “illegal executive amnesty.” President Obama put DACA in place in 2012.
Reaction following the ruling was swift. Maneesha Kelkar, Interim Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said, “The Supreme Court ruling against the Trump administration’s termination of the DACA program, allowing DACA to continue is a triumphant victory for immigrant communities and youth who have fought courageously for the program. As we celebrate the victories for immigrant youth, we also celebrate the fight of Black organizers calling for an end to racist police violence. Young immigrants, including Black immigrants, are essential to our communities. The fight to end police violence benefits us all. This ruling shows once more that when the most impacted community members stand up and fight, we all win.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D – New Jersey) stated, “Today’s Supreme Court ruling upholding DACA is as much a repudiation of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant crusade as it is justice for the thousands of Dreamers who call America home and contribute so much to our society, culture and economy. To all the Dreamers who have lived in fear since President Trump took office: I hope today’s ruling makes clear that America stands with you and that this is your home.
“The time has come for Congress to pass permanent protections for Dreamers. It is time for Senator Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R.6), which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives last year, and once and for all lifts the cloud over Dreamers by providing them with a pathway to citizenship they have rightly earned.
“As the moral arc of history continues to bend towards justice, today’s high court ruling is just the latest chapter — but not the end — of our fight for Dreamers and immigrants. It is my sincere hope that President Trump will use this opportunity to chart a new course and to stand on the right side of history with the overwhelming majority of Americans who support Dreamers and immigrant rights, and stop using them as political pawns to advance a divisive, immoral immigration agenda.”
Following the ruling, Menendez joined Dreamers outside the Supreme Court – to download pictures and video please click here.
Governor Phil Murphy applauded the Court, saying, “The Supreme Court has correctly ruled that the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – or DACA – was unlawful. We applaud the Court’s ruling to protect the more than 16,000 Dreamers who call New Jersey home, and who are among the more than 800,000 Dreamers across our country who are just as American as any child born here.
As our state continues to face unprecedented challenges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Dreamers are directly contributing to our communities — as students, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, employees, job creators, and front line workers. We celebrate their contributions and remain committed to supporting them and their families.
Across the past two years, we have taken significant steps to empower our immigrant communities and ensure their place in a stronger, fairer and more inclusive New Jersey. We have removed barriers to financial aid that held Dreamers back from pursuing a higher education, and we are working on implementing driver’s licenses for all residents regardless of immigration status. Through our Office of New Americans in the New Jersey Department of Human Services, we will continue providing information and resources to Dreamers and their families regarding DACA renewals and work permits, among other services.
With this ruling, and especially during this public health emergency, we call on our federal partners in the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to extend DACA renewals and work permits. And, we call on the Trump Administration to open up the process to accept new DACA applications, and we urge Congress to work together on a permanent solution and a path to citizenship for all Dreamers and their families.
I am proud of the work of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, and his team, in leading New Jersey’s efforts in support of this successful outcome.
Our Dreamers are a strong part of our New Jersey family, and today’s decision will help ensure that they can be part of the next generation of Americans who will lead our state and our nation.”
Congressman Albio Sires (D – District 8) of West New York was also quick to state his joy over the Court decision, saying, “This Supreme Court decision to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is a victory in our fight for humane immigration policy and a moment of justice for Dreamers and the entire nation. As the Court said, the Trump Administration’s effort to rescind DACA was ‘arbitrary and capricious’ all along.
“During my time in Congress, I have had the privilege to engage directly with dozens of Dreamers and hear their stories. Dreamers enrich our communities and are a key part of the social fabric of this country. I am thrilled that the Supreme Court’s decision will provide temporary relief for more than 800,000 Dreamers. But now more than ever, Congress must take legislative action to protect Dreamers. As a cosponsor of the Dream and Promise Act, I call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring it to the Senate Floor for a vote so that we can legislate a pathway to citizenship for those who are American in every way except on paper. I will continue fighting for our Dreamers until they can finally be certain that they are here to stay.”
President Trump immediately tweeted his reaction, saying, “These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives. We need more Justices or we will lose our 2nd Amendment & everything else. Vote Trump 2020!”
The President will now have to return to the lower courts if he wants to continue his efforts to end DACA, but he’ll need to come up with a more compelling argument if he hopes to convince the court that the program is illegal. That, however, may be a moot point if the President loses his re-election bid.