US President Donald Trump administration bid to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has been dealt a blow after a Friday court ruling.
In his ruling in Washington, DC, US District Judge John Bates said Trump administration must fully restore the program created by former President Barack Obama in 2012.
DACA is a program that protects young immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as children from deportation.
However, judge Bates said he would stay Friday’s order until August 23rd to give the government time to decide whether to appeal the ruling.
Bates first ordered the federal government to continue the DACA program including taking applications in April but stayed that ruling for 90 days to give Trump administration time to better explain why the program should be ended.
On Friday the judge refused to revise his previous ruling as arguments presented by President Trump administration didn’t override his concerns.
Under the program more that 700,000 young adults popularly referred to as “Dreamers” were protected from deportation and were issued with two-year work permits after which they must re-apply under the program.
After the ruling on Friday, a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice said that the government would continue to defend its position on DACA.
