New York, June 19, 2020 – The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) celebrates and offers the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump’s administration may not immediately proceed with its plan to cancel a program protecting about 700,000 young migrants known as Dreamers from deportation. The action to hold one of President Trump’s central campaign promises was carried out by Chief Justice John Roberts, the swing vote in the 5-4 decision.
According to the US Supreme Court Opinion No. 18–587 and Chief Justice John Roberts states: “We conclude that the acting secretary did violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)”, and that the decision to rescind DACA “must be vacated.” In his decision, Roberts called the Trump administration’s “total rescission” of DACA “arbitrary and capricious.”
SIMN is pleased that the Supreme Court blocked Trump ending DACA, and celebrates the initiatives and work of thousands of dreamers, their families and organizations that continue standing for their rights. As stated by the Center for Migration Studies, a Scalabrinian think thank “recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program have long contributed to the US labor force, economy, and communities, and several are now on the front lines combating the outbreak of COVID-19 and working to prevent the spread of the virus and to support those affected by it.” It would have been a shame to cancel the protection and prepare the deportation of 700,000 people who contribute to this country in a lot of different industries that go from health care, transportation, manufacturing, management, hospitality, etc.
As an organization that safeguards and promotes the dignity and rights of migrants, SIMN supports nothing but the path to citizenship for the nearly 700,000 DACA recipients or a permanent legislation that can secure a place in this country for these young migrants. For now, SIMN is pleased that this nonpermanent victory will let Dreamers continue to dream and breathe without the burden of deportation, and continue standing to advocate the protection of dignity and the validation of their rights and those of their families.