Texas DACA ruling could strip Dreamers of their right to work and access to education: Here’s why it matters nationwide

Tens of thousands of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients living in Texas may soon lose their legal right to work and access to in-state tuition under a recent court decision that applies only within the state. The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that portions of the 2022 DACA regulation, specifically those granting employment authorisation and lawful presence, are unlawful. The ruling leaves in place the protection from deportation, but separates it from the other key benefits. Following the court’s decision, the geographic scope of the nationwide injunction was narrowed to Texas. As a result, federal immigration officials submitted a proposal detailing a Texas-specific implementation plan, where access to work permits and lawful presence would depend on a r