SEATTLE — A federal judge says the government cannot revoke a Mexican man's enrollment in a program designed to protect those brought to the United States illegally as children before he has a chance to rule.
“Daniel represents what can happen,” said Luis Cortes, a Dreamer himself and one of the attorneys representing Daniel Ramirez Medina. “I don’t think there’s any question that DACA is severely under attack.”
U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez on Tuesday asked for additional arguments from lawyers before Daniel Ramirez Medina's status in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program expires May 15.
The 25-year-old Ramirez drew international attention last year when the government revoked his DACA status last year. Ramirez Media was detained during an operation targeting his father, a previously deported immigrant with a past conviction of drug trafficking, according to federal authorities.
ICE agents who interviewed Ramirez Medina at the time claimed he admitted to having gang ties, an allegation his attorneys have firmly denied.
There’s absolutely no basis for that statement,” said Mark Rosenbaum, also part of Ramirez Medina's legal team.
"We’re eager to have a trial. We’re eager to question the Department of Homeland Security and ask them why they’ve said and why they continue to say that Daniel is a gang member. All we’re after is the truth, and we welcome a trial where the evidence is in front of a federal judge as to what basis the government had to try to disparage this young man and his family and try to destroy his future."
Ramirez Medina is currently facing two separate court cases, both in immigration court and U.S. District Court. His attorneys are both appealing a deportation order and also fighting to preserve his DACA status.
A decision in a class action court case issued last month out of California resulted in Ramirez Medina's status being reinstated. However, his attorneys say 24-hours later the government sent another notice to terminate his DACA status.
Ramirez Medina, who appeared at the hearing Tuesday, declined to speak to reporters at the request of his attorneys. However, he briefly chatted with supporters and other Dreamers who showed up to court.
“We’re hopeful communities will be able to respond like we’re doing in Daniel’s case with attorneys, with community members support,” said Monserrat Padilla of United We Dream. “And we’re hopeful that Congress will wake up and realize that legislative solution needs to come today.”
