DHS Beats Appeal Challenging Environmental Review of DACA

The Department of Homeland Security can avoid a challenge to the environmental review of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and other immigration policies, the Ninth Circuit affirmed Monday.

Environmental groups and ranchers argued DHS failed to consider the environmental impacts of those programs and policies in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. Immigration causes population growth, the groups said, which harms the environment.

By allowing people who entered the country illegally to remain, DACA added a “more settled population” and “entices future unlawful entry,” Whitewater Draw Natural Resource Conservation District, Californians for Population Stabilization, and other groups ...