Supreme Court to hear DACA oral arguments as it weighs legal status of DREAMers

DACA supporters at the Supreme Court — (Image credit: Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court will hear 80 minutes of oral arguments Tuesday from defenders and opponents of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields about 660,000 immigrants who grew up in the U.S. from deportation. Texas and 12 other states are challenging the legality of the program, instituted by former President Barack Obama in 2012, but lower courts in California, New York, and Washington, D.C., have blocked President Trump's plans to end the program, citing Trump's violations of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Until the Supreme Court hands down its decision, the young immigrants — or DREAMers — already in the program can renew their 2-year work and residency permits but new DREAMers can't enroll in the program. One of the lawyers defending DACA at the Supreme Court is a DREAMer from Washington State. The lead advocate for the program on Tuesday will be famed litigator Theodore Olson, joined also by California's solicitor general.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.