It was recently reported that a New York federal judge ruled that the new DACA rules were invalid. Judge Garaufis called it a “sad and inappropriate use of executive authority,” according to CNN. This ruling came after the Judge saw that Chad Wolf was not legally allowed to serve as Homeland Security secretary when the new rules were put into place that limited applications and renewals for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The new rules that Chad Wolf tried putting in place said that they would no longer be accepting new applications, and the renewal length was cut to one year instead of two.
Donald Trump has tried many times to dismantle the DACA program that has been in effect for eight years. The Trump administration tried to end the program completely in 2017 but the Supreme Court blocked this action. While Judge Garaufis did rule this unlawful, there is not anything yet that explicitly demands for the new DACA applications to be accepted and for the two year term length to be reinstated.
It is so sad and frustrating to continuously see the Trump administration try to dismantle the DACA program that provides over six hundred thousand dreamers with the opportunities to get an education and become successful. The DACA program allows dreamers the ability to get a work permit, so dismantling this program would have devastating effects for them. It is disheartening to see Trump be so insensitive to such a large population. The dreamers are not yet given a path to citizenship, so the DACA program is the least the country can do for them. Many dreamers are people who were children when they were brought here and it is unfair to punish them in the only country they know.
Although there still needs to be something that explicitly demands for the former DACA program to be reinstated and followed, this is still a huge win for the dreamers. This is proof that there are still good and just people fighting for the rights of the dreamers. Dreamers are just as American as anyone else that was born here, and in some cases I would argue they are more American. Dreamers show such a strong will and determination to be successful in the United States, even if there’s many who do not think they belong here.
Dreamers are good people who only wish to have the same opportunities others who are born here have. It is not like anyone can be protected under DACA either. There are so many regulations and steps to follow in order to become a DACA recipient. People always assume it is so easy but it is not. I do not see what the issue is with allowing more people to be able to follow their dreams while also contributing to the economy and society in general.
Although nothing is set in stone, the ruling by Judge Garaufis makes me extremely happy and hopeful that our dreamers will remain protected. Dreamers ARE Americans and deserve to be here and have the same opportunities as everyone else.