June 18, 2020
Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued
the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision
rejecting President Trump’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) program. The decision, written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts
Jr., marks the second defeat for the Trump Administration this week, after the
Court’s decision protecting LGBT
workers from discrimination in the workplace. AG Ford has made fighting for immigrants and
other vulnerable populations a priority under his administration. In October,
2019, AG Ford led a coalition of states in filing a brief
with the U.S. Supreme Court urging them to protect this program.
In addition to the social benefits provided
by the DACA program, the recipients of this program, or DREAMers, provide
positive economic benefits to Nevada. The program provides recipients with the
ability to apply for work authorizations, which allow them to work legally in
the U.S. DACA recipients in Nevada exercised an estimated $261.8 million in
spending power in 2015, and paid an estimated $19.9 million in State and local
taxes.
“When I ran to be Attorney General, I said
that I'd always put Nevada families first. DREAMers are part of the Nevada
family, and President Trump has attacked our family,” said AG Ford. “I
am glad that the Supreme Court has shut him down. These young people want
nothing more than to continue living and working in the country they call home.
By ending the DACA program, more than 669,000 undocumented young people could
be at risk for deportation, including more than 12,000 DREAMers living in
Nevada. Today’s Supreme Court decision protects them. That’s a win for the
entire Nevada family.”
Case Background:
In 2012, then-President Barack Obama allowed Dreamers to live in
this country as long as they meet certain criteria. These criteria include
being enrolled in school, having graduated from school or a certificate
program, or being an honorably discharged veteran. Additionally, each Dreamer
must pass a background check showing that the recipient is not a threat to
public safety. This DACA status must be renewed every two years.
On September 5, 2017, the Trump Administration announced that it
would end the DACA program within six months. The end of the program could
leave Dreamers exposed to deportation.
In October, 2019, AG Ford led a coalition of states in filing a brief
with the U.S. Supreme Court urging them to protect this program. The Trump Administration
asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and review the case. The Court
agreed, and heard oral arguments on November 12, 2019.
The Supreme Court’s decision is attached.
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