Immigration
Biden blames 'MAGA Republicans' after appeals court strikes down DACA
He called on Congress to pass a path to citizenship.
October 6, 2022 1:43pm
Updated: October 6, 2022 1:49pm
President Joe Biden lashed out at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for ruling against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on Wednesday, saying it was part of “MAGA Republicans’” extreme agenda.
The circuit court ruled that DACA, which protects illegal immigrants who came to the country as children from deportation, was illegally implemented by the Obama administration because it did not have the authority to grant status to certain migrants without Congress’s approval.
The ruling also barred the U.S. government from processing any new applicants for DACA but stopped short of dismantling the program, saying its over 600,000 beneficiaries could continue to receive legal protections.
In a statement, Biden said he was “disappointed” in the decision and blamed Republicans.
“I am disappointed in today’s Fifth Circuit decision holding that DACA is unlawful. The court’s stay provides a temporary reprieve for DACA recipients but one thing remains clear: the lives of Dreamers remain in limbo,” he began.
"Today’s decision is the result of continued efforts by Republican state officials to strip DACA recipients of the protections and work authorization that many have now held for over a decade," Biden added.
Biden signed a memo affirming his support for DACA after taking office in 2021. In June 2021, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled that DACA was illegal in June 2021, which was appealed to the Fifth Circuit.
The president called upon Congress to pass permanent protections for so-called Dreamers, “including a pathway to citizenship,” before scolding Republican officials at the state level.
“My Administration is committed to defending Dreamers against attacks from Republican officials in Texas and other States. This challenge to DACA is just another example of the extreme agenda being pushed by MAGA-Republican officials,” said Biden.
The decision sent the case back to the lower court for further consideration. The rule will take effect Oct. 31.
