Here’s How Justice Brett Kavanaugh Could Impact U.S. Immigration Policy

By Nereida Moreno
Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act and others demonstrate outside the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., in May. The Trump administration failed to convince a U.S. appeals court that it was justified in ending the program, but a Texas judge on Friday ruled in a separate case that DACA was likely illegal.
Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act and others demonstrate outside the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., in May. The Trump administration failed to convince a U.S. appeals court that it was justified in ending the program, but a Texas judge on Friday ruled in a separate case that DACA was likely illegal.
Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act and others demonstrate outside the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., in May. The Trump administration failed to convince a U.S. appeals court that it was justified in ending the program, but a Texas judge on Friday ruled in a separate case that DACA was likely illegal.
Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act and others demonstrate outside the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., in May. The Trump administration failed to convince a U.S. appeals court that it was justified in ending the program, but a Texas judge on Friday ruled in a separate case that DACA was likely illegal.

Here’s How Justice Brett Kavanaugh Could Impact U.S. Immigration Policy

By Nereida Moreno
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Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday will hear arguments in his first major immigration case as a Supreme Court Justice: Nielsen v. Preap.

The case will determine whether the federal government can detain immigrants with past criminal records without bond during their deportation proceedings.

Kavanaugh will likely play a major role in shaping U.S. immigration policy. SCOTUS could agree to hear arguments on the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program as early as this year, according to the National Immigration Law Center.

It’s been about a year since President Trump ordered the end of DACA, which grants certain protections for so-called Dreamers — immigrants who came to the country illegally as children.

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to continue accepting renewal applications in January, but thousands of Dreamers remain in limbo. Kavanaugh’s appointment to SCOTUS could help determine the fate of the program.

Claudia Valenzuela of the National Immigrant Justice Center joins the Morning Shift for an update on the state of the DACA program and what Kavanaugh’s presence on the bench could mean for immigrants living in the U.S.

GUEST: Claudia Valenzuela, Detention Project director at the National Immigration Justice Center

LEARN MORE: With Kavanaugh, Supreme Court to decide pending cases affecting more than 1 million immigrants (USA Today 10/8/18)

Kavanaugh likely to be pivotal U.S. high court vote on divisive social issues (Reuters 10/6/18)

DACA Litigation Timeline (National Immigration Law Center)