Texas Federal Judge Hanen has put the DACA program on hold.
For Immediate Release: July 16, 2021
Contact: Jose Patiño, jose@alientoaz.org
Reyna Montoya, reyna@alientoaz.org
Texas Federal Judge Hanen has put the DACA program on hold.
On Friday, July 16, 2021 Texas Federal Judge Hanen put on hold the DACA program, DHS may accept new DACA applications but it cannot approve new DACA applications. Judge Hanen has put the lives of thousands of Dreamers on hold. As of now, DACA Renewals will still be accepted and processed due to the injunctions from Batalla Vidal, which enables USCIS to accept and adjudicate a DACA application by anyone who has previously been accepted into the DACA program.
As an organization that has supported hundreds of dreamers throughout the years we are heartbroken by today’s ruling from Judge Hanen. Now more than ever, Arizona dreamers need a pathway to citizenship. We ask Sen. Sinema and Sen. Kelly to work together to pass a permanent solution for Dreamers as soon as possible as thousands of Arizona’s Dreamers livelihoods depend on it. Dreamers in Arizona are tired of the roller coasters of emotions that come with changes of administrations and the constant court decisions.
Reyna Montoya, Founder + CEO of Aliento, DACA Recipient states, “This decision impacts our students and thousands of dreamers across our nation who submitted their DACA applications. This news is disheartening. This uncertainty can be stopped by U.S. Senate. We need the leadership of Sen. Kelly and Sen. Sinema now more than ever. As DACA recipients and dreamers we need certainty in our lives and permanent solution now.”
Daniela Chavira, a new DACA Applicant and former Aliento fellow states, “I am beyond devastated, words can not describe how I am feeling right now. To have the program rescinded when I first was eligible to apply back in 2017 and now this. Us being undocumented does not make us any less human. We are your neighbors, friends, but most importantly part of this community. Now, I will continue to live in constant limbo and be subject to deportation if Congress does not act. Change needs to happen now! I want every undocumented person to know that they are not alone and that we will continue to advocate so that this fear and uncertainty can come to an end."
or email us at info@alientoaz.org
###
ALIENTO is a nonprofit leadership organization based in Arizona with a national reach that transforms trauma into hope and action with the dreamers, mixed immigration status families, the immigrant community, and allies through arts & healing programs, leadership development opportunities, and advocacy.