5th U.S. Circuit judges hear oral arguments in case that could end DACA

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments this week on a case that could end DACA. That’s the Obama-era program that gives some undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children a work permit and temporary protection from deportation — but no path to citizenship.

More than 200 people showed up in New Orleans on Thursday to hear oral arguments and voice their support for DACA — which began more than a decade ago and has provided protection to some 850,000 people.

The suit filed by, Texas and other GOP-led states, argues DACA causes their states additional healthcare and education costs. In court Thursday, the Biden administration argued the states don't have legal standing to bring their case. And New Jersey — which intervened in the case to defend DACA alongside the Department of Justice — argued the program affects far more people than the roughly 500,000 with the DACA status today — like the children of program recipients.

This is the second DACA case that could end up in the Supreme Court. The high court upheld the program in 2020 after the Trump administration tried to end it. Current recipients can re-apply every two years to renew their DACA status, but the case has barred new applicants from the program barred for years.