Donate Now: Aid to Latino Families of Baltimore Bridge Tragedy Donate Here
* 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the families impacted by the devastating Baltimore bridge collapse.

LULAC Applauds the Obama Administration for Decision to Exercise Prosecutorial Discretion in Deportation Cases

August 18, 2011

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta@lulac.org, (202) 365-4553

WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier today, the Obama Administration announced that it would review over 300,000 cases currently in deportation status in a case-by-case basis and categorize each case as either low or high priority. Cases that are identified as low priority will be taken out of deportation status. Once the individual is contacted by the Department of Justice that their case is no longer pending deportation, they can proceed with the process of becoming documented.

“LULAC, along with other Latino organizations and DREAM Act students, have been asking government officials to use prosecutorial discretion in order to provide the much needed relief that these families so desperately need. President Obama showed true leadership today by defending hard-working immigrant families and Dream Act students who only want an opportunity to became hard-working Americans,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran.

The Administration further stated that this was the first in a series of actions that it plans to take. Low priority cases include those without a criminal history, Dream Act students, military veterans, and spouses of active duty military personnel. A system will also be instituted that will prevent cases identified as low priority to ever be listed under deportation status.

“This is a good day for thousands of hard-working Latino families. LULAC applauds President Obama’s decision to use prosecutorial discretion on low priority deportation cases. The President’s actions are exactly what the Latino community and civil rights organizations have been expecting from this Administration and we are proud of his leadership that allows relief to so many hard-working Latino immigrant families,” said Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director for LULAC.

About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating through nearly 900 LULAC councils nationwide.

###