NEW YORK – A federal judge on Friday has given a blow to the US PresidentDonald Trump.

Court ruled that the Trump administration must fully restore a program thatprotects from deportation some young immigrants who were brought to theUnited States illegally as children, including accepting new applicationsfor the program.

US District Judge John Bates in Washington, DC, said he would stay Friday’sorder, however, until August 23 to give the administration time to decidewhether to appeal.

Bates first issued a ruling in April ordering the federal government tocontinue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program,including taking applications. He stayed that ruling for 90 days to givethe government time to better explain why the program should be ended.

On Friday Bates, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, aRepublican, said he would not revise his previous ruling because thearguments of President Donald Trump’s administration did not override hisconcerns.

Under DACA, roughly 700,000 young adults, often referred to as “Dreamers”,were protected from deportation and given work permits for two-yearperiods, after which they must re-apply to the program.

The program was created in 2012 under former President Barack Obama, aDemocrat.