Democratic elected officials and immigration advocates in New York on Thursday cheered the U.S. Supreme Court decision that for now preserves the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and prevents the deportation of 700,000 people with Dreamer status in the United States. 

“The Court’s decision today is a major victory for DACA recipients, their families and communities, and basic standards of justice, fairness and what our country can be in its best moments," said FWD.us President Todd Schulte. "This ruling was only possible because of the courage and resiliency of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who bravely stood up and refused to be ignored. It is a decision we will fight to protect."

New York Attorney General Letitia James also praised the ruling. Her office, along with thge California attorney general, had led the legal effort to preserve the program by arguing the case in November before the court. 

“The Supreme Court’s decision today sets aside an inhumane injustice by the Trump Administration and permits young people who go to school here, who work here, who pay taxes here, who raise families here, and who are vital members of our communities to continue to be able to live in their homes without fear of arrest or deportation," James said. "America is a country of immigrants; our culture made richer by their contributions and our economy made more prosperous because of their work."

Still, advocates and supporters of the program remain wary.  The court essentially took the issue back to the Department of Homeland Security, which could try to rescind the program again. 

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a statement said more work is needed to bolster the legal status of undocumented immigrant children who arrived in this country as children.

"These young men and women make our country stronger—they are entrepreneurs, health care workers, members of our military, and more," she said. "While we celebrate today’s ruling, we must remember there is still work to be done because for many DREAMers, this is the only country they’ve ever called home. We must keep our promise to them, pass the DREAM Act, and finally put them on a path to citizenship.”