NEW YORK, (CMC) – The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) has denounced a federal district judge ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, saying that it “cruelly endangers” the lives of millions of Caribbean and other immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.

Justice Andrew Hanen of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas has issued an injunction preventing the Biden administration’s recent DACA regulation from taking effect.

Essentially, Judge Hanen’s order will allow DACA renewals to proceed but denies first-time DACA applications.

DACA is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion, providing temporary relief from deportation (deferred action) and work authorisation to certain young undocumented immigrants. The programme was created on June 15, 2012, by former US President Barack Obama, but his successor, Donald J Trump, sought to rescind it.

Many immigrant groups have since been challenging Trump’s decision in various federal courts across the country.

DACA does not provide permanent legal status to individuals and must be renewed every two years.

NYIC executive director, Murad Awawdeh, stated that Judge Hanen’s decision on DACA is a clear injustice to the millions of Caribbean immigrants living in the US.

“(The) decision from Judge Hanen is a clear injustice for the millions of people who are American in every way, except for legal status,” he said.

He said despite contributing to the country, raising families, paying taxes, and joining the workforce, DACA holders and ‘Dreamers’ remain under constant threat by Republican leaders and conservative courts.

“Judge Hanen’s far-right ruling is a direct assault on the lives of 1.2 million people and their families, and is a national disgrace,” he said.

“As conservative courts continue to be hostile to ‘Dreamers’, this latest ruling only illustrates the extent of their anti-immigrant agenda,” he added.

NYIC is the umbrella organisation that represents over 200 immigrant groups in New York.

In addition, Awawdeh said that President Joe Biden’s administration and the US Congress have no more excuses to delay passing permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship as millions of people and families continue to be held hostage by the courts with no sign of relief.

Angel Reyes Rivas, DACA recipient and organiser at the immigrant group ‘Make the Road New York’ also denounced Judge Hanen’s ruling.

“This ruling comes as no surprise to me as I continue to have to live with deep uncertainty about my life. While DACA recipients like me will be able to continue renewing for now, the reality is that this court continues to leave us in limbo,” she said

“Moreover, hundreds of thousands of DACA-eligible youth remain without a chance to have their applications processed. Without protections, they are left at risk of deportation and separation from their families.”

“Once again, during this crucial time, we call on Congress and the Biden administration to take immediate steps to fully protect undocumented immigrants. We cannot wait any longer. Our lives are in constant jeopardy, and it is time for Congress to pass common-sense legislation to provide a path to citizenship,” she added.