Washington, DC – On June 23, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 4-4 in the case known as Texas v. United States, a decision that defaults the ruling on President Obama’s 2014 Immigration Executive Action to create the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA+) programs, to the lower court’s decision. Today’s deadlock upholds the U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeals’ earlier decision to block the implementation of DAPA and DACA+ last November. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is extremely disappointed in the Court’s decision that effectively denies administrative relief from deportation to millions of immigrant families across the country.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is a huge setback for all immigrant families in the U.S. The expanded DACA and DAPA programs would have been crucial first steps to addressing our country’s immigration crisis and curbing the disproportionate criminalization of people of color,” said APALA National President Johanna Hester. “Immigrants have been absolutely critical to building and strengthening our nation, and our immigration policies should start to reflect the dignity and respect these families deserve.”
Had the Supreme Court ruled in favor of DAPA and DACA+, an estimated 3.9 million of immigrants and their families across the country would have been eligible for administrative relief from deportation, though the majority of undocumented people were excluded from the newest provisions. The Asian Americans Advancing Justice estimates that nearly 500,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders stand to benefit from existing programs. Today’s outcome does not impact existing beneficiaries of the DACA 2012 program, nor does it set a national precedent.
“Too long have undocumented immigrants been ostracized for their immigration status, and with this new ruling, our communities will still continue to live in fear and worry about being torn away from their loved ones. This tie vote is yet another example of why we need to appoint a Supreme Court Justice who will not play politics alongside Republican members of Congress. The GOP’s continued obstructionism to appoint a new Justice impedes our highest court from administering justice,” Hester added.
APALA joins the #Not1More campaign and calls for signatories on a petition demanding for a moratorium on further deportations. To sign the petition, please visit: https://action.mijente.net/petitions/no-dapa-no-deportations/. APALA will continue to push for comprehensive immigration policies that are inclusive of all undocumented immigrants, and remains committed to ending the mass criminalization of communities of color.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is a huge setback for all immigrant families in the U.S. The expanded DACA and DAPA programs would have been crucial first steps to addressing our country’s immigration crisis and curbing the disproportionate criminalization of people of color,” said APALA National President Johanna Hester. “Immigrants have been absolutely critical to building and strengthening our nation, and our immigration policies should start to reflect the dignity and respect these families deserve.”
Had the Supreme Court ruled in favor of DAPA and DACA+, an estimated 3.9 million of immigrants and their families across the country would have been eligible for administrative relief from deportation, though the majority of undocumented people were excluded from the newest provisions. The Asian Americans Advancing Justice estimates that nearly 500,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders stand to benefit from existing programs. Today’s outcome does not impact existing beneficiaries of the DACA 2012 program, nor does it set a national precedent.
“Too long have undocumented immigrants been ostracized for their immigration status, and with this new ruling, our communities will still continue to live in fear and worry about being torn away from their loved ones. This tie vote is yet another example of why we need to appoint a Supreme Court Justice who will not play politics alongside Republican members of Congress. The GOP’s continued obstructionism to appoint a new Justice impedes our highest court from administering justice,” Hester added.
APALA joins the #Not1More campaign and calls for signatories on a petition demanding for a moratorium on further deportations. To sign the petition, please visit: https://action.mijente.net/petitions/no-dapa-no-deportations/. APALA will continue to push for comprehensive immigration policies that are inclusive of all undocumented immigrants, and remains committed to ending the mass criminalization of communities of color.
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