The judge ruled that the US should close DACA for new applicants

The judge ruled that the US should close DACA for new applicants

A federal judge in Texas ordered the US government on Friday to close DACA for new applicants-saying that the Obama administration did not have the legal authority to provide deportation assistance and work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the US as children.

Satisfying the request of Texas and other Republican-led states, Judge Andrew Hanen demanded that the Biden administration stop approving new applications for DACA, blocking access for tens of thousands of teenagers and young immigrants to Obama-era legal protection.

Hanen did not order the government to revoke work permits and protection from deportation for more than 616 thousand immigrants who are already registered with DACA.

Friday’s ruling is a serious challenge for DACA recipients, their allies and the Biden administration, which has promised to defend the Obama-era initiative. This is also the first time that a federal court has declared DACA illegal since the initiative was created in 2012.

photo: flickr/cc/Victoria Pickering

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