For Immediate Release: March 27, 2026
Contact: Michael Earls at [email protected]
Gaby Pacheco: “DACA Protections are Lawful, But the Targeting of DACA Recipients is Not”
Read the letter to Congress HERE highlighting the threats to DACA recipients and urgent action needed for Dreamers
Washington, DC – On the heels of sending a letter to Congress highlighting the growing threats to DACA recipients and the larger urgent need for action on behalf of Dreamers, TheDream.US and its President & CEO Gaby Pacheco today highlighted a persistent source of confusion that goes to the heart of need for action to support Dreamers.
According to Gaby Pacheco, President & CEO of TheDream.US:
“As the reports pile up about the targeting, detention, and deportation of Dreamers, it’s important to remember that the conservative Fifth Circuit found in 2025 that DACA’s deportation protections were lawful (see a detailed explainer from MALDEF here).
This is more than just a nuance and clarification as part of a complicated legal case. Instead, it goes right to the heart of the injustice of the current moment. Federal courts have determined that DACA’s protections are lawful and that active DACA status should convey protections from being targeted by immigration enforcement agencies – yet that is not happening, as case after case around the nation are demonstrating. These unlawful arrests must stop immediately. DACA protections are lawful, but the targeting of DACA recipients is not.
Meanwhile, the growing delays in the processing of DACA renewal applications, the reports of indefinite pauses facing some country-specific applicants, and reminders that the broader population of Dreamers don’t have access to DACA protections in the first place all add up to make a larger, urgent call for legislative action: deliver a path to citizenship for Dreamers and peace of mind for the communities, families, and workplaces who rely on them.”
Read the letter to Congress from Gaby Pacheco and TheDream.US, available in full online HERE
Additional Resources
- Read the recent TheDream.US statement reacting to reports of the detention and deportation of DACA recipients
About TheDream.US
TheDream.US is the nation’s leading organization supporting Dreamers at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, immigration, and advocacy. We’ve awarded over 12,000 scholarships to immigrant youth from 120+ countries and 45 states, with 4,500 graduates to date. We partner with close to 80 colleges in 20 states and Washington D.C. to provide scholarships, career support, and access to legal options that help Dreamers break through systemic barriers and achieve social mobility.
Through data, Scholar and Alumni stories, strategic partnerships, and targeted state and local advocacy, we work to expand equitable access to college, professional pathways, and permanent legal status. For more information on TheDream.US, visit www.thedream.us
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