The Trump administration announced last week that it will
reject new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program,
despite a federal judge’s order last month that said new applicants
must be considered.
That order, issued by U.S. District Judge Paul Grimm in a
case filed in Maryland, came four weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed DACA to remain in place. Trump
administration officials told Judge Grimm last Friday during a court hearing
that DACA applications have neither been “granted nor rejected” since the
Supreme Court ruled, leading the judge to say he will consider whether to hold
the government in contempt.
Nonetheless, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting
Secretary Chad Wolf said in the July 28 memo that DHS will not process new applications as
the agency engages in a “comprehensive review” of the program. The
administration also will begin renewing DACA recipients’ protections for only
12 months, instead of the current two years.
ACE noted in a tweet that
“we are appalled” by the administration's decision. The Council and the higher education
community continue to call on Congress to pass a legislative solution to help
DACA recipients and other Dreamers. As ACE President Ted Mitchell said in a statement
on the Supreme Court decision, the “Supreme Court ruling is a needed and most
welcome development, but it does not offer permanent legal protection. We urge
Congress to finally do the right thing and pass legislation that will enable
these exceptional individuals to keep contributing their best to America, the
only country they have ever called home."
For more information on DACA and the Dreamers, see our Remember the
Dreamers website.