By Gonzalez Olivieri, on Immigration Updates
The Trump administration has created uncertainty for Dreamers, individuals brought to the U.S. as children without legal status, particularly through its shifting stance on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While the federal government recently suggested it may begin processing initial DACA applications again after years of delay, it also maintains that the program does not grant legal status, leaving DACA recipients vulnerable to deportation. This has led to cases where DACA recipients, despite being in good standing, have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, raising concerns about the future of the program.
DACA, introduced in 2012, provided protections to undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, allowing them to work and live legally without fear of deportation. However, it does not offer a path to citizenship, and recent court rulings and the Trump administration’s actions have created instability for both current and potential DACA recipients.
Earlier this year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that DACA, and work permit processing could resume across the United States, except in Texas, where state officials argued DACA harms public resources. The Fifth Circuit paused its own ruling so it is not currently in effect and there are no current changes to the DACA program. While the Supreme Court is not reviewing the case for now, a district court will determine how to implement this ruling. The Trump administration has indicated it may restart initial DACA adjudications but emphasized this does not prevent future changes to the program. Advocates warn this could create false hope for new applicants. In Texas specifically, Dreamers risk losing work permits and lawful presence status, threatening their livelihoods and legal standing.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Gonzalez Olivieri LLC today.
Reference:
Alexandra Villarreal, Before Trump, ‘Dreamers’ were shielded from deportation. Here’s what’s changed, The Guardian, (Oct. 11, 2025), https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/11/trump-immigration-dreamers-daca.
