WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit against the DACA policy, FWD.us President Todd Schulte released the following statement:

“The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is important and should be read in full. While this ruling goes against what most Americans want and believe – that DACA is legal and a huge benefit to our country – it includes several critical components.

“First, because the court’s stay allowing for renewals remains in place, current recipients can continue to renew their protections for now. Put simply: for now, the status quo remains.

“Second, the conservative Fifth Circuit also made clear in its ruling the deep value of DACA by highlighting that ending the policy would do substantial harm to DACA recipients. In part due to these ‘reliance interests,’ and as the court ruled Texas had only shown harm to itself, this ruling does not put a nationwide injunction in place on DACA. This is an explicit and important acknowledgement: even this court understands the massive harm that would result from ending DACA.

“What comes next in the court case remains unclear, but a new administration takes office on Monday. A few weeks ago, President-Elect Trump made welcome comments acknowledging that providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers is the best path forward for our country. He now has a unique opportunity to protect DACA recipients and secure permanent protections for Dreamers. First, he should ensure that DACA stays in place by continuing to enact the policy as president and not supporting litigation against it. Second, he should also work with Republicans and Democrats to pass narrowly targeted legislation that specifically provides Dreamers the permanent protections that are best for them and all Americans.

“No one should have to live their life from court decision to court decision, nor in two-year increments. DACA has transformed the lives of so many. It is long past time for DACA recipients, and so many others, to have a pathway to citizenship.”