Justice Dept. Issues Reminder For DACA Recipients And Employers

The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a reminder for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and employers on July 21, 2021. The reminder notes that on July 16, 2021, a federal court found DACA unlawful, which means that the government cannot grant new DACA applications. But existing DACA recipients are allowed to retain their grant of DACA and apply for renewal, DOJ noted. "The district court ruling does not affect ICE's [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] existing enforcement guidelines. The ruling made clear that it did not 'require DHS or the Department of Justice to take any immigration, deportation, or criminal action against any DACA recipient, applicant, or any other individual that it would not otherwise take.' In light of the court decision, DOJ said, "we are issuing these reminders about employment discrimination and immigrant employee rights."