Last month, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would review the Texas initiated lawsuit challenging President Obama’s executive immigration initiatives.
The lawsuit particularly challenges President Obama’s proposed plan for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). These initiatives would help keep families together by providing work permits and temporary protection from removal to approximately 5 million immigrants. After Texas and 25 other states filed a lawsuit challenging the executive action, a federal district court in Texas put a hold on DAPA and expanded DACA. The Obama administration appealed the court’s ruling but was denied by Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
In support of the appeal and President Obama’s plan, LACLJ joined immigrant rights’ groups, states, local governments, law enforcement officials, current and former members of Congress, and current and former immigration and homeland security officials to request that the Supreme Court hear the case. Moving forward, the Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on President Obama’s executive actions this spring, and LACLJ will sign onto a brief describing the merits of the case.
These Deferred Action initiatives are essential for keeping immigrant families united. LACLJ’s Immigration Program represents young people on their DACA petitions, but their parents do not have access to the same security. DAPA would allow parents of American citizens and permanent residents who have been living in our communities for years to safely stay with their children in the United States.
