Statement from Commissioner Raquel Batista on the Texas v. U.S. Ruling on the Future of DACA

Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs


Press Release


Statement from Commissioner Raquel Batista on the Texas v. U.S. Ruling on the Future of DACA

July 19, 2021

In response to the ruling by Judge Andrew Hanen last Friday that invalidates the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — a program that provided legal status and work authorization to nearly 700,000 people who arrived in the country as children and have lived in the United States ever since — Raquel Batista, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, issued the following statement.

“This decision represents a severe injustice to Dreamers and immigrant communities across New York. Dreamers have shown time and again their commitment and incredible contributions to our city, and they prove that empowering our immigrant neighbors strengthens our communities in their entirety. While we are deeply troubled by the news, this decision highlights the long-overdue need for new pathways to citizenship for our immigrant neighbors. We continue to stand firmly with Dreamers, and we call on the Biden administration and Congress to use all means at their disposal, including through reconciliation, to deliver a permanent place for Dreamers and their families in our communities.”

It is important to note that although this decision orders U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to stop processing any new DACA applications, the decision does not impact any existing DACA grants, and USCIS will continue to accept and process applications for DACA renewals. New Yorkers who have questions about DACA can call the ActionNYC hotline at 1-800-354-0365, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., to access timely and trusted information and connections to City-funded, free and safe immigration legal help. Please visit nyc.gov/daca for more information.