A federal judge declares DACA is illegal, likely sending the case to the Supreme Court for a third time. And the search for an escaped prisoner comes to a dramatic end. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Sept. 14, 2023.

Federal judge rules DACA is illegal

A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – known as DACA – is illegal. This ruling is likely to send the case back to the Supreme Court.

Judge Andrew Hanen said Wednesday, Sept. 13 that DACA — the federal policy that prevents the deportation of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children — a group often called “Dreamers” — is unlawful. His order does not require the federal government from taking action against current DACA recipients, but it does bar the U.S. from approving any new applications.

Texas and eight other states are suing to stop the Obama-era policy saying DACA results in taxpayers incurring the cost of social services for immigrants in the country illegally.

Defenders of the program, including the federal government, say the policy helps those who had no choice about entering the country and argue the nine states have failed to provide evidence showing the costs they have incurred are tied to DACA recipients.

Judge Hanen had ruled the program was unlawful once before in 2021. The Biden administration created a new version that took effect last year, but Hanen’s ruling has found that new version to be illegal.

With an appeal likely, the Supreme Court is expected to decide the program’s fate for a third time. The high court was deadlocked on a ruling in 2016 and four years later ruled the Trump administration improperly ended DACA.

According to the latest government data, there were 578,680 immigrants enrolled in DACA as of March 2023.

Autoworkers to strike at midnight if no contract agreement reached

The United Auto Workers Union and major automakers have until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 to reach a contract agreement. If they don’t, more than 140,000 employees could begin to strike. General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have put offers on the table that the union has rejected.

Workers want 40 percent pay raises over four years, a 32-hour work week with 40 hours of pay and traditional pensions for new hires. The automakers have countered the demands, but the union has not accepted.

If a strike does occur, the union says it won’t be all at once. The strategy is to start striking at the automakers’ most profitable plants. Multiple unions have gone on strike or threatened to in recent months for better pay and working conditions, including American Airlines pilots and UPS drivers who have seen their pay increase. 

Hurricane Lee nears northeastern U.S.

Portions of the northeast are monitoring the potential impacts from Hurricane Lee as it moves toward the coast.

Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect as heavy rainfall, floods and high winds are possible threats into the weekend. Lee could arrive as early as Friday evening for portions of New England.

The storm remained at Category 2 strength Wednesday, but is expected to gradually lose strength by the time it nears the U.S. and Canada.

Escaped prisoner captured in Pa. after 14-day search

After an intensive search that lasted 14 days, Danelo Cavalcante, the convicted murderer who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison, is back behind bars thanks to thermal imaging technology and a Border Patrol dog named Yoda.

Cavalcante was captured Wednesday as tactical teams used an aircraft to pick up a heat source in a wooded area in the southeastern portion of the state. Officials say they had the “element of surprise” on their side.

Authorities say the 34-year-old fugitive and native of Brazil was still carrying a stolen rifle when he tried to escape capture by crawling through heavy underbrush, but was subdued by the search dog who bit Cavalcante on the scalp.

No shots were fired during the arrest.

Some of the officers involved in the capture posed for a group photo with the handcuffed inmate. Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens says he was not bothered by that, saying, “Those men and women worked amazingly hard through some very trying circumstances. They’re proud of their work.”

Cavalcante was arraigned on an escape charge and then taken to a state prison near Philadelphia where he is serving a life sentence for killing his ex-girlfriend last month.

Senator Mitt Romney won’t seek reelection

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney (UT) has announced he will not be running for reelection in 2024. He believes it is time for new leadership to tackle the challenges ahead citing his age as the main reason not to run for another term.

Romney encouraged the 2024 presidential frontrunners of both parties to follow suit, saying President Biden and former President Trump need to step aside for the next generation.

Romney was a presidential candidate in 2012 and served a term as Massachusetts governor. Romney received heavy criticism over his decision to vote to convict Trump in 2020 — the only Republican in the Senate to do so.

While strategists believe it would have made for a challenging 2024 campaign, Romney believes he still would have won reelection in the Senate.

Major newspaper company seeking Taylor Swift, Beyonce reporters

The largest newspaper chain in the country has posted two new job openings and they are creating some bad blood with critics.

Gannett, the owner of more than 200 daily papers including USA Today, is looking to hire two writers to cover specific musical artists —  a Taylor Swift reporter and a Beyonce reporter.

Both job listings state that Gannet is looking for someone who can capture the singers’ effects across the music and business worlds. For example, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is estimated to generate close to $5 billion in consumer spending in the U.S.

However, critics including other journalists question the new roles’ importance amid recent layoffs at the newspaper company. Some see this as the paper replacing real journalism with super-fan behavior.

Gannett’s vice president defends the openings saying they are not hiring these writers at the expense of other reporters.