Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/18-587_5ifl.pdf
Page Number: 44

6 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v. 
REGENTS OF UNIV. OF CAL. 

Opinion of THOMAS, J. 

comment procedures.  The States also argued that DHS’ de-
cision to recategorize an entire class of aliens from “unlaw-
fully  present”  to  “lawfully  present”  exceeded  its  statutory 
authority  under  the  federal  immigration  laws.    According
to  the  States,  these  defects  rendered  the  2014  memoran-
dum  arbitrary,  capricious,  or  otherwise  not  in  accordance 
with law. 

The District Court preliminarily enjoined DAPA and ex-
panded DACA.  The Fifth Circuit affirmed, rejecting DHS’ 
claim that the programs were an exercise of prosecutorial
discretion.  Texas,  809  F. 3d,  at  167,  188.    The  court  con-
cluded that the States were likely to succeed on their claim 
that the 2014 memorandum was a legislative rule that had 
to be adopted through notice and comment rulemaking.  Id., 
at  171–178.  The  court  further  concluded  that  the  2014 
memorandum was “substantively contrary to law” because
the INA did not grant DHS the statutory authority to im-
plement either program.  Id., at 170, 178–186. 

This  Court  affirmed  the  Fifth  Circuit’s  judgment  by  an
equally divided vote.  United States v. Texas, 579 U. S. ___ 
(2016) (per curiam). 

C 

The 2014 memorandum was rescinded on June 15, 2017, 
before taking effect.  Shortly after that rescission, several 
of the plaintiff States sent a letter to then-Attorney General
Jefferson Sessions III.  They contended that the 2012 DACA 
memorandum was also legally defective because, “just like 
DAPA, DACA unilaterally confers eligibility for . . . lawful 
presence  without  any  statutory  authorization  from  Con-
gress.”  App. 873.  The States wrote that they would amend 
their  complaint  to  challenge  DACA  if  the  administration 
did not rescind the 2012 memorandum creating DACA by
September 5, 2017.

On September 4, then-Attorney General Sessions wrote
to  then-Acting  Secretary  of  Homeland  Security  Elaine