The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals engaged in critical discussions on Thursday regarding the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The case, initiated by Texas and eight other states, could strip protections from approximately 528,000 Dreamers, including 27,000 in Houston, amidst ongoing debates over the challenge's financial implications and legal standing.
On Thursday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments concerning the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This program safeguards an estimated 27,000 Dreamers in Houston who arrived in the United States as minors. Texas and eight other states instituted a six-year legal battle in 2018 to terminate DACA, alleging it places an undue financial burden on the state. This hearing is a significant moment in that ongoing legal battle.
Outside the New Orleans courthouse, DACA recipients and immigrant advocates convened to monitor this critical legal dispute. The dispute has the potential to impact the work permits and deportation protections of 528,000 individuals across the country. Houston, which is home to the fourth-largest DACA population in the United States, is expected to be significantly affected by the outcome.
During the proceedings, DACA was defended by attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the State of New Jersey against the State of Texas. The judges discussed Texas's legal standing to challenge the federal policy, the validity of financial harm claims, and the potential for partial judgments on the program.
Representatives of MALDEF emphasized that DACA recipients, who have exited the K-12 education system, have improved their access to health insurance through their work permits, which contradicts Texas's assertions of financial duress. Meanwhile, Texas maintained its legal authority to challenge DACA, citing a previous legal victory against a comparable program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).
Legislation authored by Houston Senator Joan Huffman and Representative Senfronia Thompson, aiming to establish a $3 billion dementia research fund in Texas, has successfully passed the House. The crucial next step – securing funding through a constitutional amendment – is now facing significant obstacles due to a partisan standoff primarily centered on the contentious issue of school vouchers. This political climate casts doubt on the ultimate realization of the Houston-led initiative.
Attorneys for Houston-area midwife Maria Rojas challenged the state’s investigation into alleged illegal abortions, calling it speculative and flawed. Rojas was released on bond, though her clinics remain closed under a temporary court order.
A group of Texas lawmakers is calling on the White House to move NASA's headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Houston’s Johnson Space Center in 2028. They argue the move would reduce costs, reconnect NASA leadership with its core mission, and leverage Houston’s deep space infrastructure and workforce.