This Week in Immigration Reform — Week Ending May8
Week Ending May 8
This week in immigration reform: NCLR continues our blog series on deferred action recipients; developments on lawsuits challenging executive action; and great news for DACA recipients in Arizona.
NCLR Blog features DACA recipient: This week’s installment of our ‘Living the American DREAM’ blog series features Nadia, a DACA recipient from Tennessee who plans to attend Christian Brothers University this fall to pursue a degree in education. Nadia told us “Thanks to DACA, I can go to college and be anything I want. I would love to be a history teacher because history has helped me understand who I am.” While Nadia is working to be able to save for college, she remains active in her community working with NCLR Affiliate, Latino Memphis.
DACA recipients in Arizona eligible for in-state tuition: This week the Arizona Board of Regents announced that DACA recipients will be able to receive in-state tuition rates at Arizona public universities. The announcement followed a court ruling that DACA recipients are lawfully present in Arizona and eligible for in-state tuition. For more information about in-state tuition policies and access to higher education for undocumented students, check out this map from United We Dream.
Update on lawsuits: This Monday, Texas and its fellow states challenging expanded DACA and DAPA filed documents with the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals to reiterate their challenge of deferred action. The 5th Circuit is expected to rule any day on the Department of Justice’s request the programs be allowed to move forward while the appeals process plays out. Oral arguments regarding the Department of Justice’s appeal on Judge Hanen’s ruling regarding implementation are slated for the week of July 6.
Also this week, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit heard arguments regarding an appeal by notorious Arizona Sheriff Arpaio. Arpaio claims that the president’s deferred action policies are requiring his jails to expend millions of dollars housing undocumented immigrants that Obama refuses to deport. A Politico article notes the three-judge panel will likely affirm the lower court’s decision that tossed out the suit on standing grounds.
