Latino Leaders Condemn Supreme Court Decision to Allow Blockade to Continue of President’s Administrative Action on Immigration
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino organizations, expressed its deep disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 4-4 decision in the United States v. Texas case, in which the Court effectively sided with a lower court judge in blocking implementation of President Obama’s administrative actions on immigration. The President’s administrative actions would have expanded the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and established the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), granting affirmative relief from deportation to nearly five million undocumented immigrants.
“There are two hidden dragons behind today’s Court non-decision, which leaves millions of citizen children in daily fear that a parent will be placed in detention and removed. They are: 1) the United States Senate leadership that continues its dereliction of duty in refusing to confirm a ninth Supreme Court justice, and 2) the leaders of 26 states, with Texas in the lead, who continue to pursue this wholly political lawsuit, with ongoing costs for their own residents,” stated Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel. “However, this case is ongoing, and MALDEF will continue to fight in court to secure the President’s authority to engage in thoughtful and consistent action to ensure that those who are low priorities for enforcement receive a humane measure of relief through protection from deportation.”
“The Supreme Court’s decision today is a cruel blow to millions of families that face the continued threat of being torn apart by deportation. Implementation of the President’s common-sense administrative actions would have allowed millions of individuals to come out of the shadows, apply for work authorization, pay taxes, and – most importantly – remain united with their families. Despite today’s setback, we are resolved to continue to fight for justice. Today’s new census data that shows the Latino population in the fifty states has grown to 56.6 million, underscores how large our community is. An organized population of that size engaged in the civic life of our nation will eventually turn the tide toward more humane immigration policies,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.
“We are deeply disappointed and frustrated with today’s Supreme Court decision in the case of United States v. Texas. For months since the untimely death of Former Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, we have warned that an evenly divided court would be unable to meet its constitutional duties to mete out justice. Today affirms those concerns. This 4-4 decision on DAPA/DACA+ means that millions of undocumented immigrants and their families will continue to live in the shadows, in constant fear of being separated from their loved ones. But this fight is far from over. We will redouble our efforts to get Congress to enact broad and progressive immigration reform that includes a path for citizenship and relief for immigrants that want nothing more than an opportunity to work hard and contribute to their families and our nation,” stated Jose Calderon, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Immigration Committee and President of the Hispanic Federation.
