Judge Andrew Hanen
Southern Texas U.S. District Court
Andrew Scott Hanen was born in December 1953 in Elgin, Illinois. He grew up in Waco, Texas. He earned an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from Denison University and received his Juris Doctor from Baylor Law School. He clerked for the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court before entering into private practice.
He was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to be a U.S. District Judge, but the nomination lapsed. Ten years later, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He was confirmed by a 97-0 vote of the United States Senate and received his commission in May 2002.
He is married to Diane Dillard and they have one daughter.
In the News…
President Biden’s administration has been blocked by a federal judge in Texas from approving new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, although current DACA recipients will remain unaffected for the time being.
In a 77-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen found that DACA is unlawful and that the Department of Homeland Security can no longer approve new applicants to the program. He also ruled that for the time being DHS could continue to process DACA renewals as the issue continues to move through the courts.
The court’s order does not “require DHS or the Department of Justice to take any immigration, deportation, or criminal action against any DACA recipient, applicant, or any other individual that it would not otherwise take,” Judge Hanen wrote in the ruling.
The ruling could motivate Congress to move ahead on securing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers (the DACA individuals). If DACA is ultimately overturned for current recipients, their protection from deportation and work permits would be removed.
The DACA program grants work permits and protection from deportation to more than 600,000 young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Judge Hanen today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Andrew Hanen
Southern Texas U.S. District Court
United States Courthouse
515 Rusk Street
Houston, TX 77002
