House Votes to Defund DACA

What the recent vote to defund DACA means for you

The Jaensch Immigration Law Firm has been contacted by the public about some disturbing news this week which has Immigrants even more uneasy while nervously awaiting Congressional action on the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform:

First, The House of Representatives in Washington voted Wednesday  to “defund” the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).  It means the House wanted to not make money available for the DACA program.  While this sounds very alarming in reality it is a symbolic gesture.  DACA is not funded separately, so funds cannot be taken away.  The Republican-controlled House wanted to show that they oppose President Obama’s program to allow young undocumented immigrants – the so-called “Dreamers” – to live and work in the U.S.  The Republicans want to stall the Government’s  DACA program and want Congress to vote on the controversy of allowing illegals to become legal.  Any cancellation of DACA would require approval in the House and the Democrat-controlled Senate as well as the President’s signature, an unlikely prospect.  So, the House vote has no effect on DACA at the moment.  And the rumor that Dreamers will be deported is also nothing more than a rumor and very unlikely to happen.

Second, Governor Scott last Tuesday vetoed a law to go into effect that would allow DACA applicants to obtain driver’s licenses.  The Florida legislature almost unanimously had voted for the bill but Gov. Scott used his authority to not put the law into effect.  The Governor said in his veto message that he rejected the President’s policy of creating DACA with his own policy power without having the force of law.  In the meantime, those DACA applicants who have been approved and have their work authorization will continue to obtain driver’s licenses and their current one remains valid.