A federal appeals court heard arguments this week on the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, which provides protection from deportation for immigrants who came to the country as children.

Pamela Chomba, director of State Immigration Campaigns at FWD.us, told Capital Tonight the program has protected thousands of “dreamers” from getting deported and provided them with economic security and a place in the community.

The case is currently being argued in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Chomba said advocates and dreamers like herself are not expecting hopeful news out of the decision.

Chomba argues that the continuous legal challenges to the DACA program has led to confusion among immigrants about the program. Despite the confusion, Chomba encourages people to continue to reapply for the program. If the program is overturned, more than 600,000 immigrants could be thrown into legal jeopardy.

While Chomba touts the success of the DACA program, she said more needs to be done. She told Capital Tonight there needs to be federal action spurred on by the Biden administration to establish a pathway to citizenship for immigrants.