Lawsuit filed today seeks information on federal government policy changes in the processing of DACA renewal applications that is causing delays and lapses in status for DACA recipients
Washington, DC—Today, the Justice Action Center, with pro bono counsel Covington & Burling LLP, sued the Trump administration for withholding critical information on changes in renewal processing policies for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the program which has provided undocumented immigrant youth an opportunity to secure temporary protection from deportation and a work permit.
The organizations filed suit in federal district court in the District of Columbia after the Trump administration failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for records within the time limit allowed by federal law.
The records sought are of critical importance to DACA recipients. While the Supreme Court considers the Trump Administration’s attempts to end the program, the administration seems to be implementing deeply troubling, unexplained changes in DACA renewal policy and practices, such as refusing to review renewal applications until just 150 days (or less) before the expiration deadline, and doubling renewal fees. Coupled with an unprecedented backlog of unprocessed renewal applications, these changes significantly hinder the ability of DACA recipients to maintain their current status and threaten the DACA program itself.
“The stonewalling and lack of information from the administration about these policy changes is unacceptable,” says Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Center. “DACA recipients need real information — not in a few weeks, but right now — in order to make the best decisions for their own lives about when to renew, especially given that a Supreme Court decision about DACA is expected in the coming months.”
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