Today’s News & Commentary — January 10, 2018

Late yesterday, a federal district court judge in San Francisco issued a national injunction ordering the Trump administration to “maintain the DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] program on a nationwide basis” while litigation over the program plays out.  Therefore, previous DACA beneficiaries must be allowed to renew their status, though the government will not be required to accept new DACA applications.  The New York Times reports that the ruling could have serious effects on potential political and legislative solutions for Dreamers.

Also on immigration, President Trump appeared open to a deal that would pair border security with protection for young, undocumented immigrants during a televised meeting with lawmakers.  He also signaled support for a pathway to citizenship as part of broader immigration reform, a stance that exposes a willingness to pursue a bipartisan measure but also risks pushback from Trump’s most ardent supporters.

Relatedly, union representatives complained that border security employees often work long hours in hazardous conditions.  During a House border and maritime subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, four labor leaders—three that endorsed Trump and one that did not—gave testimony calling for increased staffing at the border.

Today, Fast Food Justice—a nonprofit workers’ group—plans to announce that 1,200 New York fast-food workers have pledged to contribute $13.50 a month, which allows it to receive contributions forwarded through employers under a New York City law that was passed last year.  The law, which applies only to the fast-food industry, is the first of its kind and allows workers to help support organizations that advocate for issues that are important to them.  Unlike a union, the group will not seek to negotiate contracts.