On the fifth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program Thursday, the Trump administration formally revoked an Obama-era program intended to protect parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents who were in the country illegally.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly signed a memorandum rescinding the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).
NBC 7 spoke with Monika Langarica, a San Diego-based immigration lawyer who said the decision to rescind DAPA would not impact Dreamers.
Langarica, senior attorney at ABA Immigration Justice Project, works with undocumented families. She said Thursday's decision carried a muted impact because DAPA never went into effect in the first place.
"DACA still exists, and DAPA hasn't existed for a long time now," Langarica said. "And what Kelly signed today doesn't affect either of those things."
DAPA, created under the administration of former President Barack Obama in 2014, was blocked by a federal judge in Texas after 26 states challenged the program’s policies.
The program would have tentatively affected about four million undocumented immigrants in the country if it had gone into effect.
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According to the press release by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, DACA will remain in effect.
"It's still really important to note that DACA still exists right," Langarica said. "So folks need to renew their DACA. They should do that. If they think they're eligible, they should consult with an attorney.”
