Federal Appeals Court Declares DACA Unlawful but Limits Injunction to Texas

The Fifth Circuit Court ruling keeps protections for current recipients intact while barring new applications, setting the stage for potential Supreme Court review.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful, affirming a lower court's decision.
The court narrowed the scope of the injunction to Texas, allowing DACA to remain operational in other states while litigation continues.
Current DACA recipients nationwide can continue to renew their status, but no new applications will be accepted under the program.
The ruling challenges the Biden administration's 2022 regulation codifying DACA, which the court found to be materially similar to the original 2012 executive action.
The decision increases the likelihood of a Supreme Court review, while uncertainty grows with the impending Trump administration's immigration policies.