U.S. Supreme Court Decision: Blocking Continues on President Obama’s DAPA and Expanded DACA

Posted by Tiyalaw at 23 June, at 07 : 21 AM Print | Email | PDF

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U.S. Supreme Court Decision: Blocking Continues on President Obama’s DAPA and Expanded DACA

DAPA AND EXPANDED DACA UPDATES

The fate of DAPA and expanded DACA has now been decided when the U.S. Supreme Court renders its 4-4 decision this morning in United States v. Texas. This means the 5^th Circuit’s court decision upholding an injunction to prevent the implementation of DAPA and Expanded DACA will remain. The original DACA, already implemented, is unaffected by the decision and will continue.

U.S. President Barrack Obama announced important executive actions on November 20, 2014, such as DAPA and expanded DACA. The implementations of DAPA and expanded DACA have been on hold since February 2015 due to a preliminary injunction, supported by 26 states.

WHAT IS DAPA?

Undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may request deferred action and apply for a 3-year work permit (employment authorization document/EAD) under the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability Program (DAPA). On November 20, 2014, they must be parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents born on or before November 20, 2014. Among other things, such parents must also have been continuously residing in the U.S. since January 1, 2010; and must have passed the required background checks. Eligible applicants would have been able to apply for DAPA around May 19, 2015, if it was not blocked by the preliminary injunction.

WHAT IS EXPANDED DACA?

The executive actions were also expanding DACA eligibility. DACA is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The executive actions are expanding work authorization to 3 years from 2 years; the age requirement to include those born prior to June 15, 1981; the continuing residence to include those residing in the U.S. since January 1, 2010 instead of June 15, 2007. All other DACA prior requirements must be met. Eligible applicants would have been able to apply for this expanded DACA around February 18, 2015, if it was not blocked by the preliminary injunction. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had previously approved work permit/work authorization for 3 years for certain applications for DACA extensions.

WHEN CAN ONE APPLY FOR DAPA AND EXPANDED DACA?

DAPA and expanded DACA are still blocked by an ongoing injunction. Eligible applicants may still apply for the original DACA (instead of the expanded DACA). In February 2015, with the support of 25 other states, a federal District Court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA. After the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the preliminary injunction, the U.S. government (President Obama) requested a U.S. Supreme Court review so that the U.S. federal government may proceed with DAPA and expanded DACA. On January 19, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the case. This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision which means the injunction blocking DAPA and expanded DACA continues; and the U.S. federal government cannot move forward with DAPA and expanded DACA.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as legal advice or attorney-client relationship. By Aik Wan Kok, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & koka at tiyalaw dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-772-8224; https://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; https://immigrationresource.net

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