[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In what most observers are calling a surprise ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that protects 650,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation cannot be immediately ended.\u00a0\u00a0In the 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court determined that the 2017 decision to unilaterally end DACA was arbitrary and capricious.\u00a0 Because the administration did not provide a viable rationale for ending the program, the recision violated the Administrative Procedure Act.\u00a0 That law dictates how the government can issue and retract regulations.\u00a0 The Trump administration failed to provide a reasonable rationale for ending the program.<\/p>\n
How does this ruling affect Dreamers?\u00a0 Dreamers with DACA protections can continue renewing their status, which provides work authorization, eligibility for federal financial aid in higher education, and protections from deportation for two years.\u00a0 Eligible dreamers without DACA status should now be able to apply for the program.\u00a0 DACA applications were halted when the program was illegally ended.\u00a0 Though courts forced the Trump administration to process renewal applications during the court fight, they did not require new applications to be processed.\u00a0 Details about processing new applications have not been announced at this time.<\/p>\n