Rep. Chu: Time for The Supreme Court to Support Deferred Action Programs
WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 to uphold a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) released the following statement:
“The disappointing decision by the Fifth Circuit has only delayed the inevitable need for action to protect the millions of immigrant families already in the United States. Allowing immigrant families with deep roots in our communities to live in fear of deportation as they work, go to school, and contribute to our country is cruel. The path ahead now is clear. I am glad the Administration has already appealed this decision to the Supreme Court, and I hope the Court will take up the case so we can get the resolution that we need. Legal scholars, mayors, law enforcement officials, religious leaders, and others agree that these actions are the legal and moral choice for our country.
“Of course, we could avoid this prolonged fight altogether and provide immediate relief to our immigrants and our economy if Congress would act to pass the common sense reforms we know are needed. But House Republicans continue to put politics and opposition before the needs of our country. We saw the will to fix our broken immigration system when the Senate passed bipartisan immigration reform legislation in 2013. Our country needs a comprehensive solution to overcome the injustice of keeping millions of people in the shadows.”
On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive orders that would defer deportation for approximately 4.7 million aspiring Americans living in the U.S. The largest initiatives included an expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the creation of a new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program. The expanded DACA program extends DACA eligibility to those who entered the U.S. before the age of 16, regardless of their current age, and who have lived in U.S. continuously since January 1, 2010. The DAPA program allows parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to request deferred action and employment authorization for three years, provided they have lived in the U.S .continuously since January 1, 2010, and pass required background checks. The implementation of both programs has been suspended until ongoing litigation is resolved.