Federal Judge Blocked Unauthorized Immigrants From Participating in DACA Program

On Friday, July 16, 2021, a federal judge blocked unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as children from participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and receiving its deportation protections. For now, nothing has changed for the more than 600,000 active DACA recipients who are in the process of renewing their DACA.

Now, the fate of roughly 80,000 people who applied for but hadn't been approved for the DACA program rests with Congress — and the Senate parliamentarian. Even before the ruling, Democrats planned to include pathways for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and essential workers.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has set Wednesday as a deadline for Democrats to come to an agreement on the general framework of the bill, which includes immigration. Details of the bill — including specifics on pathways for undocumented immigrants — likely will not be available until late September or early October.