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.