UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a previous 2021 decision in Texas, ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful and returned the case to the Texas District Court for further review in light of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s DACA rule issued in August. This appellate court decision does not affect the status of current DACA recipients and allows those already enrolled in DACA to renew their status.
Consistent with its renewed call following the Texas District Court ruling, Penn State continues to urge Congress to legislate a permanent solution for the DACA program. Penn State’s Office of Government and Community Relations has been seeking a permanent solution from Congress for affected individuals residing in the U.S. The University acknowledges that these undocumented youth and young adults have lived and gone to school in the U.S. and call this country their home. The DACA program has protected these individuals in the past and allowed them to avoid deportation and remain in the U.S.
To learn more about the recent court ruling, see:
- Department of Homeland Security statement.
- White House statement.
- Fact sheet by Penn State Law Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, Presidents’ Alliance and Cornell University.
As these legislative and court decisions move forward, Penn State will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide resources for students. The Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic within Penn State Law also offers resources.