Washington, DC - On April 18, 2016 the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) joined thousands of people on the steps of the Supreme Court urging the highest federal court of the United States to stand with immigrant families and vote in favor of President Obama's proposed executive actions that included an expanded Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) and the establishment of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). The President's proposed executive actions would grant protection against the deportation as well as the lawful right to work for over 5 million people, and of that, 400,000 are Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
"Our country was built on the back of immigrant labor. Many have continuously contributed to our economy and to our society yet are the most vulnerable and exploited workers in America. By upholding President Obama's Executive Action, we are providing not just administrative relief for the millions of Undocumented immigrants who qualify for Expanded DACA/DAPA but also the dignity and respect they deserve," said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA's National President.
The case known as Texas v. United States was a result of the U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeals decision to block the implementation of the Expanded DACA and DAPA last November. Since then, many immigrant families have been continued to be deported and separated and the lives of million have been put in limbo unsure of what would happen next.
"Since the implementation of original DACA I have had the opportunity to support myself without the fear of deportation," said Yves Gomes, APALA National Executive Board Member. "Similarly, more immigrants and their families will have protection under President Obama's Executive Actions of expanded DACA and DAPA. However the majority of undocumented people, including the ones that fought for and demanded DAPA in the first place, are excluded from the newest provisions. They continue to live traumatized under the daily threats of detention and deportation."
"We have to call on the Supreme Court to stand in favor of President Obama's Executive Actions. With the millions of Undocumented immigrants and refugees living in the United States, expanded DACA and DAPA would provide necessary relief for the many communities who are disproportionately criminalized and deported as a consequence of this country's unjust enforcement policies," said Monica Thammarath, APALA National's 1st Vice President. "More importantly, we cannot stop here. While a favorable outcome would be a step in the right direction, APALA will continue fighting for immigration reform that supports all Undocumented Americans and their families."
"Our country was built on the back of immigrant labor. Many have continuously contributed to our economy and to our society yet are the most vulnerable and exploited workers in America. By upholding President Obama's Executive Action, we are providing not just administrative relief for the millions of Undocumented immigrants who qualify for Expanded DACA/DAPA but also the dignity and respect they deserve," said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA's National President.
The case known as Texas v. United States was a result of the U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeals decision to block the implementation of the Expanded DACA and DAPA last November. Since then, many immigrant families have been continued to be deported and separated and the lives of million have been put in limbo unsure of what would happen next.
"Since the implementation of original DACA I have had the opportunity to support myself without the fear of deportation," said Yves Gomes, APALA National Executive Board Member. "Similarly, more immigrants and their families will have protection under President Obama's Executive Actions of expanded DACA and DAPA. However the majority of undocumented people, including the ones that fought for and demanded DAPA in the first place, are excluded from the newest provisions. They continue to live traumatized under the daily threats of detention and deportation."
"We have to call on the Supreme Court to stand in favor of President Obama's Executive Actions. With the millions of Undocumented immigrants and refugees living in the United States, expanded DACA and DAPA would provide necessary relief for the many communities who are disproportionately criminalized and deported as a consequence of this country's unjust enforcement policies," said Monica Thammarath, APALA National's 1st Vice President. "More importantly, we cannot stop here. While a favorable outcome would be a step in the right direction, APALA will continue fighting for immigration reform that supports all Undocumented Americans and their families."
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