US judge blocks Trump's DACA ban

A federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the United States President Donald Trump's administration from banning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that protects certain illegal immigrants from deportation on Tuesday.

In a court ruling, as reported by the Hill, Judge William Alsup said that the US' Department of Homeland Security's decision to revoke DACA was based on a "flawed legal premise."

Judge Alsup also said that DACA, initiated by former US President Barack Obama must remain in place, while litigation over Trump's decision to end the program is still under consideration.

Supporters of DACA rejoiced and celebrated the ruling in the streets of San Francisco on the federal court's decision.

"Dreamers' lives were thrown into chaos when the Trump Administration tried to terminate the DACA program without obeying the law. Today's ruling is a huge step in the right direction", said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Consequently, the DACA recipients, who were earlier unable to renew their status, when Trump blocked the Obama-era program in September last year, will now have a chance to submit renewal applications.

However, the current ruling does not allow applicants to register new applications under the DACA.

"America is and has been home to Dreamers who courageously came forward, applied for DACA and did everything the federal government asked of them. They followed DACA's rules, they succeeded in school, at work and in business, and they have contributed in building a better America. We will fight at every turn for their rights and opportunities so they may continue to contribute to America", added Becerra.

Trump had announced in September that he would repeal the program, which allows certain immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, to stay and work without fear of deportation.

In a bipartisan immigration meeting chaired by Trump, DACA was among the issues discussed.

The US president had once said, that he wanted a 'bill of love' to address DACA, and in another instance, an introduction of a clean DACA bill, while dealing with other issues, like border security.

The latest ruling comes at a time, when Trump is advocating against illegal migrants living in the US and is lobbying to build a border, along the US-Mexico border to stop its infiltration.