25 Sep Officials to Accept New DACA Applications 

Introduction 

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields eligible young immigrants known as “Dreamers” from deportation and grants them temporary work permits, is once again at the center of a legal and political battle. DACA was originally established in 2012 under the Obama administration to protect individuals from deportation.  Dreamers are individuals who entered the U.S. without legal status or overstayed their visas as children. Federal immigration officials have announced plans to reopen DACA to new applicants for the first time since 2021, but the program’s future remains uncertain. 

What Happened 

To comply with a January order from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Trump administration said it will begin processing new DACA applications once U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen issues further instructions. Applicants outside Texas may be granted both deportation protection and work authorization, while those in Texas will only receive deportation deferrals. Texas residents approved under this arrangement will not be considered lawfully present in the U.S., and moving to Texas could jeopardize work permits previously granted elsewhere. 

What this means 

The decision reopens a pathway for new Dreamers to gain protections, though with limitations based on geography and continued litigation. The split treatment of Texas versus other states reflects the state’s central role in challenging the program, highlighting the uneven and fragile nature of immigration protections under DACA. While this offers hope to some prospective applicants, the Trump administration has signaled it retains authority to alter or end the program, leaving the long-term security of Dreamers to be unknown. 

Khamoushian Law Group is here to provide guidance and support with immigration matters. Stay tuned and follow @laylaesq on Instagram. 

Link to Original Article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daca-applications-immigration-officials/