The federal government isn’t budging from an Oct. 5 renewal deadline for “Dreamers” — and a judge isn’t happy with the decision.
U.S. Justice Department lawyers told Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis that authorities were going to stick with the deadline, which will let certain DACA recipients apply to extend their two-year protected status.
“It’s unacceptable to me, quite frankly, as a human being and as an American. I’m just glad I was born in Patterson, New Jersey, and not Mexico City,” Garaufis responded.
“You can’t come into court to espouse a position that is heartless.”
There are some 800,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in the country, known as Dreamers. Immigration advocates say more than 150,000 Dreamers are affected by the upcoming deadline.
When the judge met weeks earlier with lawyers for the government and Dreamers fighting the halt, he strongly urged a pause on the renewal deadline.
On Tuesday, Justice Department lawyer Brett Shumate said the decision to stick with the deadline was “not made lightly.” Still, the purpose was to kick off an “orderly wind down” of the program.
Garaufis said DACA’s end didn’t only affect its estimated 800,000 recipients, it affected their families, employers and communities.
The recipients were “making the country stronger,” Garaufis said. He arranged schedule for the sides to file their arguments on the case, which will stretch into January.
Outside court, Justin Cox of the National Immigration Law Center, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said no decision had been made about filing a quick push to stop the renewal deadline, or just litigating the case on its normal track.
