Perkins Coie Applauds Supreme Court’s DACA Ruling

Firm Attorneys Had Filed an Amicus Brief Before the Court on Behalf of 165 Colleges Opposed to the Trump Administration's Action

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2020) – Perkins Coie applauds the Supreme Court ruling that rejects the Trump administration's move to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that gave legal protections and work authorizations to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, or "Dreamers," who came to the United States as children.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, said the administration had acted arbitrarily in ending the DACA program and that it failed to provide adequate reasons for canceling the program. Perkins Coie had filed an Amicus Brief before the court on behalf of 165 colleges and institutions of higher learning who were opposed to the administration's action.

"We are pleased with the Supreme Court's ruling recognizing that the Trump administration acted arbitrarily in ending the DACA program for undocumented youth, many of whom have studied and worked hard to become successful and contributing members of our society," said Bruce Spiva, Perkins Coie's Washington, D.C., office managing partner and a political trial lawyer. "Dreamers were raised and educated in our country as Americans. DACA enabled them to remain here legally, pursue an education, and work, and has been recognized as a highly successful and valuable program by 165 colleges and institutions of higher learning across the country."

The Trump Administration announced it was rescinding DACA on September 5, 2017. Legal challenges to the move were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the District of Columbia, and the Eastern District of New York. In all three cases, lower courts either enjoined or vacated Petitioners' decision to rescind DACA. These cases were each appealed to their respective circuit courts before the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari and consolidated the cases.

The Perkins Coie team that drafted and filed the Amicus Brief also included Counsel Amanda Callais, and Associate Rebecca Mears.