Federal District Court Blocks USCIS Implementation of Expanded DACA

The USCIS website recently reported: “Due to a federal court order, USCIS will not begin accepting requests for the expansion of DACA on February 18 as originally planned. The court’s temporary injunction, issued February 16, does not affect the existing DACA. Individuals may continue to come forward and request an initial grant of DACA or renewal of DACA under the guidelines established in 2012.”

This means that President Obama’s executive action on immigration is being challenged by the courts, and that those challenges are delaying some immigrants’ ability to access immigration benefits that have lawfully been made available to them. If you planned on applying for expanded DACA, please check USCIS frequently for updates and/or consult your immigration attorney about this unfortunate turn of events.