DACA Update: Federal court rules in favor of DACA program

April 25, 2018

We join with students, scholars, advocates and all who are heartened by recent news that DACA protections for undocumented students must remain and that the U.S. federal government must resume accepting new applications.

The ruling by Judge John D. Bates of Federal District Court for the District of Columbia will not take effect immediately. The judge has given the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, 90 days to respond to his ruling. If the department fails to respond, it “must accept and process new as well as renewal DACA applications,” according to Judge Bates’ decision. 


Columbia joined an amicus brief in support of DACA in this case with other schools in the Ivy League.  “Ending DACA forces future scholars, innovators and leaders to choose between withdrawing to the margins of our society and economy or returning to countries they have never called home - their gifts and education lost to this nation. Schools must be able to identify and educate the very best students, and those students must be able to work after graduation,” the brief's authors said. 


For updated information, resources and a copy of Columbia's brief, please see University Life's special DACA pages here.

Return to University statements and bulletins on DACA and immigration issues.