Two important DACA hearings

Last Wednesday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on the legality of the DACA program. This case is an appeal of the ruling made last year by a Texas judge, who determined the creation of DACA in 2012 was not legal. Since that ruling, those already enrolled in DACA have been able to continue renewing their applications, but new applications cannot be approved. As the 5th Circuit revisits the case, however, it’s possible that even existing DACA holders could lose their protections. 

Another hearing was held in New York last week for those who had applied for DACA but have been caught in between other court rulings. When the Trump administration’s halt of the DACA program was thrown out by a judge in New York in December 2020, thousands of people were able to resume their applications until the Hanen ruling in July 2021. Those whose applications were not adjudicated and are now barred from being approved under the Hanen ruling are requesting deportation relief and work authorization while their cases remain in limbo.

Investigations of officers on horseback concluded that unnecessary force was used

On Friday the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility published a report of their findings in the investigation of agents who were involved in aggressive treatment toward Haitian migrants in Del Rio last September. The investigation found that none of the agents struck migrants, but that there was an “unnecessary use of force” by some of the agents. Four agents have reportedly been referred for disciplinary measures for the incident, although it is unclear at this time what those measures will be. Since last September, approximately 25,000 Haitian migrants have been expelled back to Haiti by plane despite the country’s ongoing instability.

Refugee admissions went up in June but annual admissions are projected to be well below the 125,000 cap

The Refugee Processing Center data for June showed 2,457 refugee admissions, a 29% increase since May. While this is the highest number of monthly admissions this fiscal year, it is still a low number by historical standards and brings the total for the year to 15,100. At this rate, by the end of the fiscal year in September, our country will have resettled around 20,000 refugees. According to a report from Axios, government officials are expecting to welcome about 25,000 refugees this year, which still falls 100,000 short of the admissions ceiling set by President Biden.