Immigrant Rights Group Appeals DACA Ruling In Maryland
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- In contrast to previous rulings on the issue, a federal judge in Maryland has sided with the Trump administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
"I think it was a mistake," said DACA recipient Heymi Elvier Maldonado.
On Friday, CASA -- an immigrant advocacy group representing Maldonado and hundreds of others in Maryland -- filed an appeal to the March decision made by a federal judge in the state supporting the end of DACA.
"I found it discriminatory because I don't think there was any reason for him to side with the Trump administration," Maldonado said.
In his opinion, Greenbelt judge Roger Titus said the administration is within its rights to end DACA, writing he wished he could have arrived at a different conclusion adding, he hoped that "Congress and the president will finally get their job done."
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Other federal judges have ruled against ending the program, which protects some young immigrants from deportation.
DACA was set to end months ago, but court rulings have kept it going to some degree.
Whether they are for or against, DACA recipients say lower court rulings are merely just crumbs of a cake that will ultimately be a Supreme Court ruling on DACA.
DREAMers who are hoping for a win in Maryland only strengthen their case, should it get to the highest court in the land.
"We want to make sure it gets clarified," Maldonado said.
In the past, the president has blamed Democrats for failing to come to a permanent solution to DACA.
"The Democrats have really let them down. It's a shame and know people are taking advantage of DACA" Trump said when asked during the White House Easter Egg roll earlier this year.
A federal judge in a previous ruling gave the Trump administration 90 days to make a better case to justify ending the program.
RELATED: Judge Orders Reopening Of DACA, After 90-Day Delay
All of it proved frustrating for DREAMers, like Heymi, who say they are living in legal limbo.
"We're going to keep fighting, we're going to keep fighting because it's not fair," she said.
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