Where Things Stand for DACA: New North Texas Scholarship, SCOTUS Delays Decision

It’s been more than a year since former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was being shut down.But DACA’s death has been a slow one.The program created during President Barack Obama’s presidency that shields some 700,000 Dreamers from deportation and grants them renewable two-year work permits has been saved by several federal court decisions in 2018, including one decision coming in the south Texas courtroom of a judge known for being tough on immigration cases.Still, the debate about whether to permanently extend protections for DACA beneficiaries -- as well as President Donald Trump’s demand for border wall funding -- contributed to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. So where do things stand now for DACA and its beneficiaries?New DACA renewal scholarship for North Texas DreamersThe North Texas Dream Team, a local immigration advocacy group, announced Monday that it would award 12 scholarships to Dreamers who live in north Texas. At least three of these scholarships will be awarded to LGBTQ-identifying youths.The scholarships will cover the $495 renewal application costs. The deadline to apply is February 22. Scholarships will be awarded March 8.  Continue reading...