In a fresh blow&nbsp;to immigration laws in the US, the 'Dreamers' programme was deemed unlawful by a US federal judge.

Deeming it unlawful, Judge Andrew Hanen of the United States District Court in Houston said that while instituting DACA via executive order, former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a> exceeded his authority.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-divided-us-house-passes-immigration-bills-including-pathway-for-dreamers-371541">A divided US House passes immigration bills, including pathway for 'Dreamers'</a>

US president&nbsp;Joe Biden&nbsp;criticised the curtailment of the&nbsp;program that protects migrant children brought to the United States, calling the decision "deeply disappointing."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Biden said the Justice Department will appeal Hanen's ruling, adding that&nbsp;"only Congress can ensure a permanent solution by granting a path to citizenship for Dreamers,".

<div>Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)&nbsp; was introduced by Obama in 2012. It is an immigration programme that protected undocumented migrants brought to the country as children.</div>

Each year, the programme covers around 700,000 people called 'Dreamers', for many of whom America is the only 'home' they've known.

Judge Hanen says that the ruling does not dictate that Homeland Security or the Department of Justice take any additional measures such as deporting, detaining or prosecuting any DACA recipients, applicants, beyond what it would take otherwise.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-signals-hes-flexible-on-immigration-overhaul-364503">Biden signals he’s flexible on immigration overhaul</a>

He added that the government has to stop accepting people into the programme. However, the government can still receive applications. People already enrolled in the programme will also not be affected by the ruling.

Applicants to this programme had to fulfill a few criteria to be eligible. They must have reached the United States before the age of 16 to be eligible for protection and the right to work.

Additionally, applicants must be&nbsp;currently in school or have a high school diploma or equivalent qualification, or have served in the military and been discharged honourably, and have a clean criminal record.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-us-immigration-reform-bill-to-be-unveiled-on-thursday-364547">Biden's US immigration reform bill to be unveiled on Thursday</a>

The challenges to this programme stem from a 2017 effort to eliminate it by the-then President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> who attempted to dismantle the programme claiming it was unconstitutional. These efforts triggered a lengthy court battle.&nbsp;

DACA survived that and got reinstated in December last year.&nbsp;

Following in Obama's footsteps <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a> has sought to strengthen the programme and implement wider immigration reforms.

Following Friday's ruling, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a statement that said: "Democrats call on Republicans in Congress to join us in respecting the will of the American people and the law, to ensure that Dreamers have a permanent path to citizenship."

(With inputs from agencies)

In a fresh blow to immigration laws in the US, the 'Dreamers' programme was deemed unlawful by a US federal judge. Deeming it unlawful, Judge Andrew Hanen of the United States District Court in Houston said that while instituting DACA via executive order, former US President Barack Obama exceeded his authority.

In a fresh blow to immigration laws in the US, the 'Dreamers' programme was deemed unlawful by a US federal judge. Deeming it unlawful, Judge Andrew Hanen of the United States District Court in Houston said that while instituting DACA via executive order, former US President Barack Obama exceeded his authority. Also read | A divided US House passes immigration bills, including pathway for 'Dreamers' US president Joe Biden criticised the curtailment of the program that protects migrant children brought to the United States, calling the decision "deeply disappointing." Biden said the Justice Department will appeal Hanen's ruling, adding that "only Congress can ensure a permanent solution by granting a path to citizenship for Dreamers,". Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was introduced by Obama in 2012. It is an immigration programme that protected undocumented migrants brought to the country as children. Each year, the programme covers around 700,000 people called 'Dreamers', for many of whom America is the only 'home' they've known. Judge Hanen says that the ruling does not dictate that Homeland Security or the Department of Justice take any additional measures such as deporting, detaining or prosecuting any DACA recipients, applicants, beyond what it would take otherwise. Also read | Biden signals he’s flexible on immigration overhaul He added that the government has to stop accepting people into the programme. However, the government can still receive applications. People already enrolled in the programme will also not be affected by the ruling. Applicants to this programme had to fulfill a few criteria to be eligible. They must have reached the United States before the age of 16 to be eligible for protection and the right to work. Additionally, applicants must be currently in school or have a high school diploma or equivalent qualification, or have served in the military and been discharged honourably, and have a clean criminal record. Also read | Biden's US immigration reform bill to be unveiled on Thursday The challenges to this programme stem from a 2017 effort to eliminate it by the-then President Donald Trump who attempted to dismantle the programme claiming it was unconstitutional. These efforts triggered a lengthy court battle. DACA survived that and got reinstated in December last year. Following in Obama's footsteps President Joe Biden has sought to strengthen the programme and implement wider immigration reforms. Following Friday's ruling, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a statement that said: "Democrats call on Republicans in Congress to join us in respecting the will of the American people and the law, to ensure that Dreamers have a permanent path to citizenship." (With inputs from agencies)

'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed'

President Donald Trump on Friday signalled he could try again to end the programme that has protected so-called Dreamer immigrants who are in the United States illegally but entered as children, following a loss in the US&nbsp;Supreme Court.

Trump wrote on Twitter, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy that:

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The Supreme Court asked us to resubmit on DACA, nothing was lost or won. They “punted”, much like in a football game (where hopefully they would stand for our great American Flag). We will be submitting enhanced papers shortly in order to properly fulfil the Supreme Court’s.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1273967323901317120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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...ruling &amp; request of yesterday. I have wanted to take care of DACA recipients better than the Do Nothing Democrats, but for two years they refused to negotiate - They have abandoned DACA. Based on the decision the Dems can’t make DACA citizens. They gained nothing! <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1273967324681338880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-blocks-trump-from-ending-daca-immigrant-program-306946">US Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA immigrant program</a>

When asked for clarification on his comments, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said: "we're looking at documents currently" and added the administration would move forward in a "responsible" and "compassionate" way.

The 5-4 court ruling found that the Trump administration had erred in the way that it decided to end the programme in 2017. DACA was put in place by the previous administration of President Barack Obama and currently some 649,000 immigrants are enrolled.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administrations-sloppy-work-has-led-to-supreme-court-losses-307131">Trump administration's 'sloppy' work has led to Supreme Court losses</a>

The majority opinion from the court, where Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the four more liberal justices, left the door open for Republican Trump to attempt again to rescind the programme, ruling only that the administration had not met procedural requirements and its actions were "arbitrary and capricious" under a federal law called the Administrative Procedure Act.

Ken Cuccinelli, the Department of Homeland Security acting deputy secretary, on Friday told Fox News the department would "move as quickly as possible" to present Trump with various executive options he could take.

In another Tweet, Trump said that he wanted to "take care of DACA recipients," and blamed Democrats for not negotiating a permanent solution to the young immigrants' temporary status.

Talks over immigration, including a potential path to citizenship for the "Dreamers," fell apart in 2018 after Trump provoked outrage with his reported use of vulgar language to describe African countries in a meeting with lawmakers.

McEnany repeated Trump's desire to "take care" of the young immigrants and said that any move on DACA "needs to be done in a lawful way and it needs to be done in accordance with assuring that our border is safe."

Trump has made his hardline stance on both legal and illegal immigration a central platform of his presidency and his 2020 re-election campaign, but DACA is a complicated issue for him because of increasing public support of the programme.

A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found 64% of U.S. adult respondents supported DACA's core tenets. A similar December 2014 poll found that 47% of U.S. adults supported DACA.

President Donald Trump on Friday signalled he could try again to end the programme that has protected so-called Dreamer immigrants who are in the United States illegally but entered as children, following a loss in the US Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump on Friday signalled he could try again to end the programme that has protected so-called Dreamer immigrants who are in the United States illegally but entered as children, following a loss in the US Supreme Court. Trump wrote on Twitter, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy that: The Supreme Court asked us to resubmit on DACA, nothing was lost or won. They “punted”, much like in a football game (where hopefully they would stand for our great American Flag). We will be submitting enhanced papers shortly in order to properly fulfil the Supreme Court’s..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2020 × ...ruling & request of yesterday. I have wanted to take care of DACA recipients better than the Do Nothing Democrats, but for two years they refused to negotiate - They have abandoned DACA. Based on the decision the Dems can’t make DACA citizens. They gained nothing! @DHSgov — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2020 × Also read: US Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA immigrant program When asked for clarification on his comments, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said: "we're looking at documents currently" and added the administration would move forward in a "responsible" and "compassionate" way. The 5-4 court ruling found that the Trump administration had erred in the way that it decided to end the programme in 2017. DACA was put in place by the previous administration of President Barack Obama and currently some 649,000 immigrants are enrolled. Also read: Trump administration's 'sloppy' work has led to Supreme Court losses The majority opinion from the court, where Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the four more liberal justices, left the door open for Republican Trump to attempt again to rescind the programme, ruling only that the administration had not met procedural requirements and its actions were "arbitrary and capricious" under a federal law called the Administrative Procedure Act. Ken Cuccinelli, the Department of Homeland Security acting deputy secretary, on Friday told Fox News the department would "move as quickly as possible" to present Trump with various executive options he could take. In another Tweet, Trump said that he wanted to "take care of DACA recipients," and blamed Democrats for not negotiating a permanent solution to the young immigrants' temporary status. Talks over immigration, including a potential path to citizenship for the "Dreamers," fell apart in 2018 after Trump provoked outrage with his reported use of vulgar language to describe African countries in a meeting with lawmakers. McEnany repeated Trump's desire to "take care" of the young immigrants and said that any move on DACA "needs to be done in a lawful way and it needs to be done in accordance with assuring that our border is safe." Trump has made his hardline stance on both legal and illegal immigration a central platform of his presidency and his 2020 re-election campaign, but DACA is a complicated issue for him because of increasing public support of the programme. A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found 64% of U.S. adult respondents supported DACA's core tenets. A similar December 2014 poll found that 47% of U.S. adults supported DACA.

Trump signals new effort to end 'Dreamers' immigration programme after court defeat

What is the Dreamer&#39;s program?

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-scraps-dreamer-programme-19908">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA</a> was passed in 2012 by Obama administration to protect eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children from deportation.

The undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children are termed &quot;Dreamers&quot; in the country.

Roughly 800,000 people have approved for the program.

To meet the eligibility criteria, applicants should have arrived in the states before the age of 16 and should have lived there since June 15, 2007. They should not be more than 30 years of age in 2012 when the act was passed.&nbsp;

Recipients have been able to obtain driving licenses, apply for degrees and jobs. They also become taxpayers.

However, they were not given official US citizenship or permanent residents.

Dreamers were able to apply to defer deportation and legally reside in the US for two years. They could then apply for renewal.&nbsp;

Indian Dreamers in the US

Approximately 8,000 Indian-Americans are among the estimated 800,000, facing the threat of deportation after the Trump administration announced the scrapping of the program.

The program ends on March 5th, 2018 and that is all the time they are protected from deportation, hardly a 6-month deadline.

Also, an additional 14,000 undocumented immigrants from India were among the 1.9 million people eligible for DACA, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a separate announcement it would no longer accept new applications under DACA

An additional 14,000 undocumented immigrants from India were among the 1.9 million people eligible for DACA

What is the Dreamer's program? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA was passed in 2012 by Obama administration to protect eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children from deportation. The undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children are termed "Dreamers" in the country. Roughly 800,000 people have approved for the program. To meet the eligibility criteria, applicants should have arrived in the states before the age of 16 and should have lived there since June 15, 2007. They should not be more than 30 years of age in 2012 when the act was passed. Recipients have been able to obtain driving licenses, apply for degrees and jobs. They also become taxpayers. However, they were not given official US citizenship or permanent residents. Dreamers were able to apply to defer deportation and legally reside in the US for two years. They could then apply for renewal. Indian Dreamers in the US Approximately 8,000 Indian-Americans are among the estimated 800,000, facing the threat of deportation after the Trump administration announced the scrapping of the program. The program ends on March 5th, 2018 and that is all the time they are protected from deportation, hardly a 6-month deadline. Also, an additional 14,000 undocumented immigrants from India were among the 1.9 million people eligible for DACA, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The Department of Homeland Security said in a separate announcement it would no longer accept new applications under DACA

End of the American dream for 8,000 Indian 'dreamers'