DACA's Major Questions Exception

Authors

Matthew Calabrese

Abstract

The Supreme Court has extracted a new role as the gatekeeper of administrative action under the major questions doctrine. Underlying the doctrine is an understanding that agencies cannot act to address policy issues implicating questions of great political and economic significance unless specifically authorized by Congress. However, DACA presents a different question that should be exempted from the major questions doctrine. This is because DACA relies on two levels of executive authority: statutory—under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Homeland Security Act—and constitutional—under the Take Care Clause. Because, as this Article explains, the two authorities cannot be disentangled, courts should not use the major questions doctrine as a form of constitutional avoidance and instead should determine whether the Take Care Clause authorizes the executive branch to institute deferred action programs like DACA.

Recommended Citation

Calabrese, Matthew (2024) "DACA's Major Questions Exception," Hofstra Law Review: Vol. 52: Iss. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/hlr/vol52/iss2/2