Yesterday, Judge Andrew Scott Hanen of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas partially ended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), ruling that the program is unlawful and therefore the Biden administration cannot accept new applications. However, the ruling does not impact current DACA recipients who can keep their status and continue to seek renewal.

Kica Matos, vice president of strategic initiatives, issued the following statement:

“Judge Hanen’s decision shows once again that our immigration system is not one of law, but of arbitrary control, where any single federal judge can place the fate of millions of people in limbo. While Vera joins the call for Congress to pass citizenship for Dreamers, and end once and for all their legal limbo, yesterday’s decision also reminds us that liberation, not just citizenship, should be our end goal. We must continue to fight to end the exclusion, criminalization and detention of immigrants, ensure due process for all, and elevate our laws beyond their white supremacist roots. We must fight for results, but never cease to aim for true justice.”

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and activists working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles.