A Call to Faith and Action to Protect DACA Recipients
Our Christian faith calls us to stand alongside our immigrant neighbors, particularly Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, known as 'Dreamers.' These young individuals were brought to the U.S. as children and enrolled in the DACA program, which provides protection from deportation and allows them to work. However, our commitment to solidarity is now urgently needed as recent developments have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the lives of nearly 600,000 Dreamers, who have known no other home than the United States.
On Wednesday night, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen of Texas overturned an attempt by the Biden administration to formalize and strengthen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While the ruling does not impact current DACA beneficiaries, it foreshadows potential challenges for Dreamers in court, including the risk of losing protection from deportation and work authorizations. Although an appeal is expected, the previous determination by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that the original DACA was unlawful sets the stage for a final decision by the United States Supreme Court.
“Judge Hanen's decision is one more heartbreak for the almost 600,00 existing DACA recipients and the many thousands who otherwise would qualify were it not for the current situation,” said Itzayana Aguirre, a DACA recipient and member of Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo in Fort Worth, Texas. “We have learned to live our lives in increments of two years and the fact that the fate of the program could very well land on the hands of the Supreme Court is a scary thought. We are tired of the uphill battle and want a more permanent solution.”
“The judge’s decision is disappointing but not entirely surprising,” said Stephen Reeves Director of Advocacy for CBF and Executive Director of Fellowship Southwest. “The future of hundreds of thousands of individuals and families should not be left to bounce around in federal court. We need leadership from Congress, but they won’t act until they hear an overwhelming cry from their constituents. That is where our churches come in. It is up to us to force them to act. No matter who your representatives are or what party they are from, call now and demand their leadership for a permanent solution.”
“Make no mistake: this uncertainty, precariousness, legal limbo and moral vacuum is all because for decades Congress has not done their job, period,” said Elket Rodriguez, CBF Field Personnel and Team Leader of the Advocacy Team for Immigrants and Refugees. “The legal issue with DACA is simple: legislate. Regardless of what Presidents do, Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 of the Constitution vests Congress with the authority of passing immigration laws. Do what the Constitution says.”
DACA recipients are not just statistics; they are integral members of our faith communities. Our Christian faith compels us to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of their immigration status.
That is why, since 2017, CBF’s Advocacy and Action Team on Immigrants and Refugees has been advocating for the right of the Dreamers in the United States. The stories of Itzayana Aguirre and Jemima Martinez illustrate the struggles DACA recipients still face. CBF advocates continue to urge Congress to protect these young men and women who have endured years of uncertainty for the regularization of their status and have been waiting for a path to become citizens of the country they call their own.
The time for action is now.
ACTION STEPS & RESOURCES
Urge your senators and representatives to create a permanent solution for Dreamers.
To know more about the controversy that led to Judge’s Hanen decision, click here.
A fact sheet that corrects frequent misinformation
More advocacy resources on DACA from our partners of the National Immigration Forum.