MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison is urging Congress and President Joe Biden to provide a way for Dreamers to “lawfully remain in the U.S.” in the wake of a federal judge’s decision to block new DACA applications and call the program illegal.
“Individuals who participate in DACA, are undocumented or from mixed status families are important members of our community,” UW-Madison said on Saturday in a statement posted to its social media channels.
The ruling from Texas Judge Andrew Hanen would bar future applications. It does not immediately cancel current permits for hundreds of thousands of people — though it once again leaves them in devastating legal limbo and is a reminder of the uncertainty they face.
DACA, created in 2012, was intended to provide temporary reprieve to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children — a group often described as “Dreamers” — many of whom are now adults.
But almost a decade since the program was established, DACA is still one of the only signs of potential relief for undocumented immigrants looking to remain and work in the US.
Hanen, an appointee of President George W. Bush, ruled that Congress had not granted the Department of Homeland Security the authority to create DACA and that it prevented immigration officials from enforcing removal provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
UW-Madison’s post provided several resources on campus to support students who need help, including the Dean of Students Office, University Health Services, and UW’s Multicultural programming.
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