We stand with DREAMErs.

RELEASE FROM ICS RE: DACA RULINGWe are beyond dismayed by the recent ruling to emerge out of the U.S. District Court in Houston, Texas. Judge Andre S. Hanen’s decision to declare DACA an unlawful program has once more thrust thousands of young adults into harrowing uncertainty.                      Judge Hanen’s ruling means the Department of Homeland Security may continue to accept new DACA applications but is temporarily prohibited from approving them. The Biden Administration is expected to appeal the ruling, and unless Congress steps in with a legislative remedy, the legality of DACA is almost certain to be decided by the Supreme Court.In Oregon alone, over 5,000 young people qualify for the work benefits and protections afforded by the DACA program. This decision denies these DREAMERs the opportunity to seek employment, to attend higher education, to receive healthcare benefits, to build a life for themselves in the only country they’ve ever known. While past DACA recipients can continue to renew their status every two years, thousands more have now been blocked from accessing one of the few avenues to attaining a safer status in the United States.               Time and again, DREAMERs have proven to be a part of the backbone of this country. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, DACA recipients were on the front lines administering COVID tests, providing vaccine outreach, and maintaining many of the essential jobs required to keep our state strong through this unprecedented crisis. While an imperfect solution, DACA provides a lifeline to thousands of individuals across the U.S. who were brought here as children. DREAMERs grew up in this country and work tirelessly to give back to our cities and our states. It is unjust and cruel that their lives continue to be thrust into a legal limbo that can only be permanently remedied by the Congress.               It is important to note that this ruling does NOT include provisions to increase immigration enforcement. In his ruling, Judge Hanen specified, “….neither this order nor the accompanying injunction requires DHS or the Department of Justice to take any immigration, deportation, or criminal action against any DACA recipient, applicant, or any other individual that it would not otherwise take." This means that deportation enforcement priorities remain unchanged.               At this time, ICS will continue to offer support to DREAMERs throughout the state and continue to represent clients in their efforts to renew DACA. Due to the ruling, we will not be accepting requests for initial DACA applications at this time. Despite this, we encourage potential DACA applicants to meet with a member of our legal team for a legal consult in order to be screened for other forms of relief.               This situation is beyond unfortunate and we understand the stress it places on many of our community members. We know there are many questions left unanswered and we will continue to monitor federal immigration channels and provide updates on DACA and Advance Parole as we receive them. We stand with DREAMERs. We stand with our immigrant friends and family members. We stand with undocumented Oregonians who were already excluded from DACA due to their age, immigration history, or criminal record. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that our communities do not live in the shadow of deportation and an uncertain legal status.