The Justice Department is pursuing its case to stop a program that could affect many people in Florida. Formally known as Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA was launched by the Obama administration to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the United States when they were children. Multiple cases are proceeding in federal courts across the country, including those in California, New York and the District of Columbia. Now, the Justice Department is calling on the Supreme Court to intervene in all three cases, before an expected verdict from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
In January, a federal judge ruled that President Trump lacked the authority to eliminate DACA. In February, the Supreme Court refused to take the appeal out of the hands of the circuit court; however, now the Supreme Court has one more Trump appointee, Justice Brent Kavanaugh. Because of the court’s Republican-appointed majority, it is considered more likely to support the Trump administration’s position. However, the Justice Department acknowledged in the papers it filed that the 9th Circuit is fairly likely to render its opinion before the high court considers its filing.
The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to agree to take the case now so that it will be on the current year’s docket, which ends in June 2019. Otherwise, it will not be heard for another year. Over 700,000 people have been protected from deportation under the program, which has been shown to have widespread public support.
People who are protected under DACA may be very concerned about the Trump administration’s policies on immigration and how they could affect their lives. An immigration lawyer can help to defend against deportation and protect people’s right to stay in the country.
