LULAC Applauds DACA Decision By U.S. Supreme Court
Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Ruling By Country’s Highest Court Brightens America’s Future
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued the following statement in the wake of the SCOTUS announcement on DACA. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote the majority opinion in a decision that strikes a blow at the Trump Administration. Ending DACA was one of Donald Trump’s central campaign promises in 2016 when he told supporters he would immediately end an executive order by President Barack Obama which Trump referred to as illegal amnesty for 700,000 young persons. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and gives young people who came to this country as children an opportunity to apply for temporary protection from deportation for two years during which they can also work. After that, they have to renew their status and DACA has no provision for citizenship:
“Today’s decision is a major milestone since 2001, when I served as a Texas legislator and drafted what we passed as the nation’s first Dream Act. This is another step forward and a clear message that we must have comprehensive immigration reform. We congratulate the court for upholding one of the most important promises since the founding of our country for everyone. This decision recognizes the rightful place in America for the young people who are DACA recipients. They came here as children and this is the only home most of them have ever known. The United States is benefitting from their presence because everyday DACAmericans are earning an education, holding jobs and helping their own families as well as our nation. LULAC will continue to work so that they too can become U.S. citizens. We will never stop the fight for right.” Domingo Garcia, National President.
“Today’s decision is a win for our democracy and a win for America. This is a great day for our great country because close to 800,000 people protected by DACA have been granted an important step towards their rightful destiny, the opportunity to live free of fear in a place that has been home since they were young. We are not done yet because now we must make sure each of these individuals can become a citizen and continue to live, work and provide for themselves and their loved ones. The fight continues and we must exercise our voice and vote this November 3rd in order to change the current divisive discourse and future of our nation.” Sindy Benavides, National Chief Executive Officer.
The highest court in the land ruled that the Department of Homeland Security move to end DACA was arbitrary and capricious. Justices Roberts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan ruled that the Trump administration violated the laws governing federal agencies when it decided to end DACA and that the memorandum that Acting Secretary Elaine Duke wrote to recommend termination failed to consider important parts of the problem before the agency
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/