DREAMers awaiting decision from federal court judge in Houston

Thousands of young, undocumented immigrants throughout the U.S. are awaiting the decision of a federal judge in Houston.

Judge Andrew Hanen is expected to rule on a motion to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA is a President Barack Obama administration-era executive order to protect some young undocumented immigrants from deportation and gives them the ability to apply for a temporary work permit.

Since President Donald Trump's administration tried to end the program in 2017, multiple lawsuits have challenged its termination and a federal court judge ruled to have the program reinstated only for renewals.

The State of Texas is leading a multi-state lawsuit against the federal government to stop allowing for DACA renewals.

“It's much like being on a rollercoaster because you don't know what's going to happen next,” said Indira Nicole Marquez Robles, a DACA recipient.

Marquez Robles is a graduate of Challenge Early College High School in Houston and now a college student at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Ga. She arrived on campus on Friday. She says DACA has been a lifeline for her dream and is nervous now that it’s in legal limbo — again.

“Waiting on this ruling, in particular, from Judge Hanen is more overwhelming than the others because on top of the ruling, college is reality now,” adds Marquez Robles. She was at the hearing last week in Houston when Hanen heard from Texas state attorneys.

Marquez Robles recalls how it was hurtful to hear how the state referred to immigrants like her. She says she moved to Houston when she was six months old from Mexico.

“The way I live is Texan, the way I live is American also,” describes Marquez Robles to FOX 26 News.

After the hearing, Hanen asked for written arguments from each side.  They were due on Monday and he is expected to make a decision soon.