NEW YORK – A federal judge on Friday has given a blow to the US President Donald Trump.
Court ruled that the Trump administration must fully restore a program that protects from deportation some young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children, including accepting new applications for the program.
US District Judge John Bates in Washington, DC, said he would stay Friday’s order, however, until August 23 to give the administration time to decide whether to appeal.
Bates first issued a ruling in April ordering the federal government to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, including taking applications. He stayed that ruling for 90 days to give the government time to better explain why the program should be ended.
On Friday Bates, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, a Republican, said he would not revise his previous ruling because the arguments of President Donald Trump’s administration did not override his concerns.
Under DACA, roughly 700,000 young adults, often referred to as “Dreamers”, were protected from deportation and given work permits for two-year periods, after which they must re-apply to the program.
The program was created in 2012 under former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.