The Supreme Court took no action on a case that may decide the fate of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This program allows undocumented immigrants in Texas and other states to stay in the United States as long as they reported their status entered the country under the age of 16 by 2007. The Trump Administration intended to shut down the program in 2017, but a lower court ruling on the issue prevented them from doing so.

Nicknamed the Dream Act, DACA affects the immigration status of some 700,000 people. Several circuit courts have upheld the program against efforts to terminate by reasoning that deferred action has been an integral part of the immigration system for decades. Deferred action helps the government give more resources to enforcement issues that actually affect national security rather than a group of immigrants that cause no harm.

It’s the opinion of the Justice Department that DACA is illegal, and they are expected to continue to fight the issue until the Supreme Court decides to hear a case and make a decision. The believe that the program sanctions the violation of federal law by hundreds of thousands of immigrants. Supporters of the program note that the government can still carry out deportation proceedings on individual Dreamers if the need arose.

Individuals and families who are impacted by DACA may want to get some support and guidance from an immigration lawyer. The legal system for immigration in the United States can be very complicated and confusing, so it may be beneficial to have a professional with knowledge about the laws on one’s side. An attorney might be able to clarify a variety of issues for Dreamers and provide representation in court if ever necessary.