Media Statement - Welcome SCOTUS Decision Protects DACA Recipients, Including Those Who Are Survivors of Violence

DACA allows immigrant survivors to access work authorization
and other protections that help them seek safety

June 18, 2020 - In a 5-4 decision today, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program ruling that the Administration’s rescission of the program was arbitrary and capricious. The decision means that the 700,000 immigrants with DACA protections will continue to be shielded from deportation and eligible to work for the foreseeable future.

“DACA status provides essential protections and opportunities for survivors of gender-based violence, including access to work authorization, driver’s licenses, and education — all of which increase a survivor’s economic independence and helps reduce their vulnerability to domestic violence, sexual assault, and other exploitation,” said Grace Huang, Policy Director of the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence and Co-Chair of the Alliance for Immigrants Survivors (AIS). “DACA protects individuals from deportation and allows survivors and witnesses of crimes like domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to feel safer reporting crimes to police without fear that seeking justice and help will put them at risk of being deported.”

“The Supreme Court’s decision on DACA is a very important one, but it only provides temporary relief and protection. Now we must continue the march toward full, comprehensive immigration reform, beyond this very limited and narrow stop gap measure that was put in place to protect eligible immigrant youth when Congress previously failed to act,” said Rosie Hidalgo, Senior Director of Public Policy for Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network and AIS Co-Chair. “As important as DACA is, it leaves many others out, including the parents and older siblings of these youth, and many others in communities throughout the country. Congress needs to ultimately do the right thing and pass comprehensive immigration reform to help provide pathways to safety and stability for all.”