More than 200 demonstrators gathered outside a federal courthouse in New Orleans as three appellate judges heard arguments regarding the Biden administration's policy shielding immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children from deportation. The case, which involves approximately 535,000 individuals living in the U.S. without citizenship or legal residency status, could potentially impact their future and may eventually reach the Supreme Court.
One of the demonstrators, a DACA recipient named María Rocha-Carrillo, highlighted her long-established life in the U.S., emphasizing her work, homeownership, and career in education made possible by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. On the opposing side, Texas and eight other Republican-led states have raised concerns about the financial burden on states due to allowing immigrants to stay in the country illegally.
Central to the arguments before the appeals panel is whether Texas has the legal standing to bring the lawsuit and if a lower court judge had the authority to issue a nationwide ruling. DACA supporters have contested Texas' claims, pointing out that the costs mentioned are not directly linked to the policy. The judges, including those nominated by past presidents Reagan, Bush, and Obama, are deliberating on the complex legal aspects of the case.
The DACA program, initiated by President Obama in 2012, aimed to provide a pathway to legal status and citizenship for young immigrants. President Biden's efforts to uphold the program have faced legal challenges, with a district judge in Houston ruling against new applications but allowing existing approvals to remain valid during the appeals process.
Individuals like Wendy Reynoso, who came to the U.S. from Guatemala as a child, are caught in the uncertainty of the legal battle, unable to utilize their education and skills due to the DACA application limbo. The case has drawn attention from various states and organizations, with differing views on the executive branch's authority in setting immigration policy.
As the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers the arguments presented, the fate of DACA recipients and the future of immigration policy in the U.S. hang in the balance, with the likelihood of the case eventually reaching the Supreme Court for a final decision.
