Email message to the Penn State Law and SIA community on DACA ruling

Dear Penn State Law and SIA Community:

On July 16, 2021, a federal district court in Texas ruled that the DACA memo and program is unlawful. DACA is a policy implemented in August 2012 that permits certain noncitizens who entered the United States before the age of sixteen and meets educational and residential requirements, to request for a type of prosecutorial discretion known as “deferred action” and apply for work authorization. DACA has allowed nearly 800,000 people to work and/or go to school and live in the United States. There are more than 180,000 DACA-eligible students in higher education. The court decision in Texas does not affect current DACA recipients but does prevent the Department of Homeland Security (the agency responsible for processing DACA) from approving new DACA requests. I want to acknowledge how this decision impacts DACA recipients and their families around the country and in our community and also share some resources.

• Penn State University Statement: https://news.psu.edu/story/664124/2021/07/19/administration/recent-daca-decision-prompts-renewed-calls-permanent-solution
• DHS Statement: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/07/17/statement-secretary-mayorkas-daca-ruling
• White House Statement: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/17/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-daca-and-legislation-for-dreamers/
• Penn State CIRC Resources on DACA: https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/immigration-biden-administration#DACA/DED/TPS
• CAPS: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling

Please reach out if you have any questions and know we are here to support you.

Sincerely,

Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia (she, her)
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Samuel Weiss Faculty Scholar | Clinical Professor of Law
Director, Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
Penn State Law | University Park