SAN DIEGO, CA — A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to fully restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which would allow new applicants to apply for the first time since 2017. This order would potentially shield a new generation of youth—an estimated one million undocumented teens—from deportation. The restoration of DACA would be especially important to San Diegan youth whose dreams of college and career have suspended under this Administration.

While there may yet be appeals and more court decisions on DACA in the next two months, president-elect Joe Biden has stated that he will undo any remaining restrictions to the DACA program when he comes into office at the end of January 2021. He has also stated that he will introduce an immigration bill in the first 100 days of office to legalize the 11 million people who are American in every way—living, working, learning alongside citizens—and have long dreamed of a pathway to citizenship that currently does not exist for them. This would allow everyone here to achieve their full potential and grow our economy and our democracy.

Irving Hernandez, Alliance San Diego Board Member and DACA Recipient stated: 

Since 2012 I have been a recipient of the DACA Program and with it I was able to graduate from San Diego State University as an Aerospace Engineer, work, and live outside of the shadows. DACA has helped people like me, but it has also helped all of us by allowing DACA recipients to become First Responders, Teachers, and other essential workers. Allowing new applicants will benefit our communities and our country. But the fight does not end here! We must and shall continue the fight for a pathway to citizenship. That is the only long-lasting solution. 

Michelle Celleri, Alliance San Diego Human Rights Counsel stated: 

This court decision is welcome news and an opportunity for this country to do the right thing by providing young undocumented community members with legal status while Congress negotiates a longer-term solution. Alliance San Diego has been helping and will continue to help community members understand the changes in the law and apply for DACA. We encourage the community to learn more about our legal services by visiting https://www.alliancesd.org/san-diego-immigration-services.

About Alliance San Diego

Alliance San Diego is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) community empowerment organization working to ensure that all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice. Our mission is to provide a means for diverse individuals and organizations to share information, collaborate on issues and mobilize for change in the pursuit of social justice, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We pursue this mission through targeted civic engagement programs and strategic coalitions that focus on specific issues and policy reforms.