The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration cannot shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

DACA has kept nearly 800,000 young people from being deported. Recipients are all so-called "Dreamers," undocumented immigrants brought into the U.S. as children.

In the 5-4 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts provided the critical swing vote.
Writing the majority opinion, Roberts stated the government failed to give an adequate justification for ending DACA.

Roberts also pointed out that it is not necessarily unconstitutional for the Trump administration to end the program but the court ruled its "total rescission" of DACA in 2017 was "arbitrary and capricious." The ruling leaves open the possibility that the administration could try again to shut down DACA using a different legal strategy.

U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama responded to the SCOTUS ruling on Twitter. Obama instated DACA in 2012 by executive order.

Although DACA does not give a direct path to citizenship, it gives temporary status and allows recipients to work. A renewal of status is required every two years. 

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