Paxton has consistently argued that DACA exceeds executive authority and violates immigration law by allowing the federal government to unilaterally grant legal status to undocumented immigrants without congressional authorization.
The summary judgment motion seeks a final court ruling declaring DACA unlawful and permanently enjoining its implementation. If successful, the ruling would prevent the Biden administration from processing new DACA applications or renewing existing permits under the program.
Paxton's DACA litigation spans multiple presidential administrations and represents one of the most sustained legal challenges to the program since its inception under President Obama in 2012. The Texas-led coalition has previously secured injunctions against DACA expansion and successfully argued that the program sets dangerous precedent for executive immigration authority.
A previous Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in October 2022 affirmed that the President lacked legal authority to institute DACA.
Paxton previously stated, "Our lawsuit is about the rule of law, not the wisdom of any particular immigration policy." He added that Texas has argued for years that the federal executive branch lacks the power to unilaterally grant unlawfully present aliens lawful presence and work authorization.
The case continues broader constitutional tensions over executive immigration authority and represents a key test of presidential power to implement immigration relief programs without explicit congressional authorization.