Statement: Supreme Court Decision on Obama Immigration Executive Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — June 23, 2016

Contact: Vanessa Moreno, 619-721-8655, vnss179@ucla.edu

“When our communities lose, we all lose.”

LOS ANGELES – Today, in its split-decision of U.S. v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court defers to the Fifth Circuit’s holding effectively blocking President Obama’s executive actions of expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA). The court’s ruling halts enforcement of expanded DACA and DAPA denying potentially eligible immigrants with deferred action and work authorization.

The Dream Resource Center at the UCLA Labor Center believes everyone deserves the right to learn, be healthy, and pursue their dreams – regardless of immigration status. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision and the general anti-immigrant climate, we recognize that greater action is needed to ensure immigrant communities are treated with dignity and respect.

Dream Summer Manager Mario De Leon commented on the issue, saying:

“As a country, we cannot be proud of policies that deny people access to basic human rights, such as the right to work and the right not to fear for your life when sent back to a country you no longer call home. Immigrant communities build our cities, take care of our kids, and keep our city running. When our communities lose, we all lose.”

Please be aware this split decision does not impact the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive action of 2012. Beware of “notarios” and possible predatory lawyers who offer to fill out DAPA or expanded DACA application forms. DAPA and expanded DACA remain blocked and therefore, there are no applications.