Biden says he will appeal "extremely disappointing" ruling against DACA

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden said Saturday that the Justice Department intends to appeal a federal judge's ruling that DACA, an Obama-era program that has protected hundreds of thousands, is illegal. of young immigrants from deportation and renewed his calls to Congress to create a solution.

Biden said in a statement that Friday's decision is

"deeply disappointing"

and, while the judge's order does not affect those already covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program,

"it relegates hundreds of thousands of young people. immigrants to an uncertain future ".

["If you have DACA, you keep your DACA": who are affected by the ruling of a federal judge against the program that protects dreamers]

The program has allowed thousands of young people who were brought to the United States illegally as children, or who stayed longer than their visas allowed, to live, work and stay in the country.

Many of the beneficiaries, commonly known as dreamers, have been in the US for a decade or more.

President Joe Biden speaks before signing an economic executive order, at the White House, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Washington.AP Photo / Evan Vucci

But Texas and eight other states sued to stop DACA, arguing that former President Barack Obama lacked the power to create the program because he was bypassing Congress.

Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston agreed, and while his ruling left the program intact for existing recipients, it

barred the government from approving new applications.

In his statement, Biden urged Congress to move forward with legislation to permanently protect those covered by the program.

"Only Congress can ensure a permanent solution by providing a path to citizenship for Dreamers that provides the certainty and stability that these young people need and deserve," said the president.

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July 16, 202102: 17

"I have repeatedly asked Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act, and now I renew that call with the utmost urgency," he said.

"It is my fervent hope that, through reconciliation or other means, Congress will finally bring security to all Dreamers,

who have lived too long in fear."

[Biden's immigration reform stalls in Congress but two relief measures for dreamers and farmworkers advance]

The House of Representatives passed legislation in March creating a path to citizenship for those affected, but the measure has stalled in the Senate. Immigrant advocates hope to include a provision in the broad budget legislation Democrats want to pass this year, but it's unclear if that language will survive the Senate vote as well.