WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice today announced its intent to appeal directly to the Supreme Court last week’s federal district court ruling that ordered the government to resume accepting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications.

Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy and campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement:

“The Trump administration is now going to the Supreme Court to protect its decision to deport Dreamers. Today’s announcement is just the latest in a disturbing pattern of hostile actions directed at young immigrants across America.

“President Trump created the crisis facing Dreamers by ending the DACA program in September. Now, his administration is seeking to undermine efforts to reach a legislative resolution for Dreamers by adding unrelated and nativist poison pills to a potential bipartisan breakthrough.

“More than 16,000 DACA recipients already have lost their DACA status. It’s up to members of Congress to stand up for Dreamers and a vision of America that seeks to embrace, rather than expel, young immigrants.”

The case is The Regents of the University of California and Janet Napolitano v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Elaine Duke.