Is DACA Coming Back?!

Since 2021, the government has not been processing new applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. However, on Monday the Trump administration filed court documents outlining plans to resume processing of DACA applications and begin accepting new applications. The plan was issued in response to a court order issued by a Judge in Texas in January. While litigation around DACA continues, the limits put in place in the most recent court decision currently only apply to applicants in Texas.

Under the government’s proposed plan, DACA applicants who filed their initial applications in Texas after 2021 would be eligible to apply for deferred action but not work authorization or a social security number. Applicants outside of Texas would be eligible to begin filing initial applications for deferred action, work authorization, and social security numbers.

Currently, all parties are waiting for the Judge in the Texas case to issue an order that would outline next steps. Ultimately, the Judge will decide how the government should proceed, but we are hopeful that the Judge will set forth a plan that requires the government to process the backlog of DACA applications filed since 2021 and resume processing of new initial DACA applications as well.

If you have a pending application for DACA or want to know if you might be eligible to apply for DACA, please contact us!