Hickenlooper, Colleagues Object to Justice Department Weakening Legal Protections for DACA Recipients

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and over 50 congressional colleagues raised legal concerns with a recent decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to weaken legal protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the lawmakers highlighted the inconsistencies between BIA’s ruling and a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the temporary protections from deportation provided by DACA. “We are troubled to see the Board, and by extension, the Department of Justice, attempt to circumvent legal protections for DACA recipients, which have been codified in regulation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and affirmed in a recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. We urge you to take steps within your authority as Attorney General to ensure the Board’s rulings regarding DACA are interpreted in a manner consistent with current law,” wrote the lawmakers. Hickenlooper has called for a legal pathway for citizenship for DREAMers, as well as TPS recipients, and essential workers, and is a strong supporter of DACA. In March, Hickenlooper called on the Department of Homeland Security to reduce delays for DACA renewal applications. After the Trump administration announced they would stop processing new DACA applications, Hickenlooper demanded that processing resume. The full letter is available HERE . ###