The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday that the Trump administration will “reject all” first-time Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications and slash protections for current and former beneficiaries from two years, to just one year. DHS, a statement claimed, “will take action to thoughtfully consider the future of the DACA policy, including whether to fully rescind the program.”
What the administration has done is make official that its defying the Supreme Court and a lower court decision to fully reopen the program, after claiming it was reviewing decisions when there’s nothing to review because it’s court orders. This is contempt. “Extremely import thing to note about this” memo, tweeted Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel at American Immigration Council. “It is signed by Chad Wolf, who is likely not the valid lawful Acting Secretary, making this almost certainly unlawful.”
“The announcement appears to be directly contrary to an order by a federal judge, who ruled last month that the administration must immediately begin accepting new applications for the DACA program,” The New York Times reported. “Officials said they expected court challenges from immigration advocates, given the Supreme Court’s decision and the judge’s order.”
Fucking damn right they should. “Trump & DHS are now in open defiance of the Supreme Court and several federal courts,” tweeted immigration attorney Lily Axelrod. “Despite being ordered to restore the entire #DACA program (including new applications) they now openly announce that they will not do so”:
“A federal court already ordered a high-level DHS official to come back to court this Friday to explain what on earth is going on and why the admin isn't openly accepting new #DACA apps,” Axelrod continued. “Expect to see him/her raked over the coals, and possible contempt of court proceedings.”
"The courts have spoken: DACA is in full effect, including for new applications,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement received by Daily Kos. “We are ready if the Trump admin tries to block or dismantle DACA. We know what it takes to defend DACA—we've done it before and we'll do it again if necessary."
