DHS tries to re-up program for child immigrants

After a federal judge in Houston declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal in July, congressional Democrats tried to include it in a budget bill. Last week, the Senate parliamentarian nixed the inclusion of immigration reform in spending packages. Now the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is trying to reinstate DACA, an Obama-era program that prevents the United States from deporting people who were brought here illegally as children. The judge’s decision allowed participants to renew their DACA status but ruled out new enrollees.

What is the department doing differently? U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen faulted the White House for not soliciting public input on DACA when it was first proposed. DHS is asking for feedback on the plan for 60 days this time around. The criteria are mostly still the same: Applicants must have arrived in the U.S. before age 16, have no felony convictions, continuously reside in the country, and pose no security threat.

Dig deeper: Read Marvin Olasky’s reflections on immigration policy.