Federal court declares DACA illegal for a second time
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen has declared a revised version of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) illegal for a second time, but has declined to order the removal of its protections for current program recipients. He also refused to order an immediate end to the program.
Judge Hanen had previously declared DACA illegal in 2021. In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) went through a formal rule-making process in 2022. However, Judge Hanen ruled that the revised version is virtually the same as the original version, which he had declared unconstitutional because it is the result of a memo from former President Barack Obama, and noted that it will only be legal when legislation is passed by Congress.
The ruling is expected to be appealed, therefore sending the case to the Supreme Court for a third time. Learn more and urge your legislators to support a permanent solution for Dreamers on our website.
The Biden administration notifies eligible migrants encouraging them to apply for work permits
Last Thursday the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began sending emails and texts to migrants who are eligible to apply for work permits reminding them to do so. This move stems from pressure put on the White House by New York City and other cities who are not able to meet the housing needs of arriving migrants.
The communication is being sent to individuals who have arrived to the U.S. under the private sponsorship program for Cuban, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans and those who have been processed at ports of entry after scheduling appointments through the CBP One app. The notification is also being sent to asylum applicants after they have been in the country for 150 days because they are eligible to apply for work permits after 180 days.
August marks the sixth month in a row in which over six thousand refugees were admitted
Refugee resettlement numbers saw a slight decrease in the month of August, but remained above 6,000 for the sixth month in a row with a total of 6,104 admissions. The total number of admissions for 2023 is 51,231 and, as the U.S. is now in the final month of the fiscal year, it looks as though the country will finish with just under half of the total number of refugee admissions allowed for the year.