Arizonans can once again apply for DACA status after judge’s ruling
Jan 15, 2018, 9:45 AM | Updated: 1:46 pm
Demonstrators march during an immigration rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), programs, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
PHOENIX — Arizona residents who lost their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status or could not renew before last fall’s deadline can now petition to get their protections back.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is once again accepting applications to grant temporary work permits for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
However, only residents who have previously had protective status under the Obama-era policy, also known as DACA, can apply. The program grants protections to about 30,000 Arizonans and 800,000 people nationwide.
The decision comes four days after a federal judge, in a nod to pending lawsuits, temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s decision to end the program.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced an end to DACA in September, calling it an an “unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.” But the White House left a six-month delay to allow Congress to write legislation to protect the recipients.
However, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup ruled earlier this month that the program must remain in place while litigation over the administration’s decision unfolds.
In a statement posted Saturday on its website, USCIS said the policy will be operated under the terms in place before it was rescinded in September.
Karina Ruiz with the Arizona Dream Act Coalition said the group has opened its office until 6 p.m. on Monday to help the so-called DREAMers fill out their applications so they can renew their DACA status.
While the development may seem like good news for now, lawmakers are still working to write legislation to pave a pathway to citizenship for those young immigrants.
Last week, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and a group of bipartisan lawmakers announced they had reached a deal on DACA, but it was quickly shot down by the White House. They had hoped to agree on an immigration plan by Jan. 19, when the government could shut down.
KTAR News’ Martha Maurer and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
