DAPA and Extended DACA Applications Closed Today

Today was supposed to be the day that millions of migrants already present in the United States could apply for temporary permission to remain here.

On November 20, President Obama announced that he would expand the pre-exisiting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to (1) remove the age cap, and (2) extend DACA renewal and work authorization to three years. The president also announcement a new plan to provide similar Deferred Action to Parents of US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).

Today was the day the government was set to begin accepting DAPA and extended-DACA applications.

But, on Monday, a federal district court judge in Texas blocked both programs. And Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has said that although the government disagrees with that ruling, and will appeal it, they will not accept requests for either program at this time. “We fully expect to ultimately prevail in the courts, and we will be prepared to implement DAPA and expanded DACA once we do,” Johnson said in a written statement.

I certainly hope so.

My thoughts are with the millions still left in the shadows today.

-KitJ