Despite Supreme Court Ruling, LULAC Renews Efforts to Fight for the Immigrant Community
June 23, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today in U.S v. Texas, an equally divided U.S. Supreme Court left in place an appeals court ruling blocking the implementation of President Obama’s expanded executive action programs that would have granted over 4 million people work authorization and temporary relief from deportation. The President’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) would have extended protections to parents with U.S.-born children who met certain requirements. In addition, the split decision today leaves in place the lower court's stay of the expansion of the President’s other program, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which protects certain undocumented youth who came to the United States as children from deportation. However, the original DACA announced 4 years ago remains in effect.
“Today’s decision marks a significant setback for more than 4 million undocumented immigrants in this country,” said LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr. “The hope had been that those individuals would be able to come out of the shadows and legally contribute to the United States with three year work permits. While today’s split decision does not impact the original 2012 DACA program, the injunction on expanded DACA and DAPA remains in effect, and the lives of millions of immigrants will continue to be in limbo. The United States must move forward and value the contributions of those who follow the rules and provide for their families. We cannot continue to tear families apart by deporting individuals whose only wish is to provide for their families."
While today’s U.S. Supreme Court split decision allows the injunction to remain, LULAC will not be deterred in its efforts to provide justice to these individuals.
“This is why elections matter," said LULAC National Director Brent Wilkes. "Today’s decision is a devastating blow to the families who have been ripped apart and to the Latino community as a whole. It is another brutal reminder of the importance of voting and of electing officials who will legislate on matters that impact our community–such as comprehensive immigration reform. In addition, we should elect leaders who will perform their constitutional duty and confirm a full U.S. Supreme Court so that important decisions like these can actually be made by the Supreme Court. Congress has the ability to change the fate of millions of people. With our vote, we can make certain that today’s decision will only delay—and not deny—immigration relief for millions of immigrants whose only crime was to want a better life for their loved ones.”
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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 1000 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 www.LULAC.org.