(Washington DC) This Friday, exactly a year after President Obama announced his historic DAPA and expanded DACA programs providing relief to millions of undocumented immigrants across the country, hundreds of families will gather outside the Supreme Court asking for rapid resolution of a Republican legal challenge to the program.
The Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) would provide relief for parents of citizen and lawful permanent resident children if the parent had resided in the country for at least five years.
Expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) would provide relief for children brought to the United States prior to their 16th birthday and before January 2010 who have graduated from or are in the course of obtaining their education. Just in the DC region, hundreds of thousands of immigrants would qualify for the program, providing a needed economic boost to local communities while ensuring that nuclear families could not be divided by deportation.
Twenty-six Republican-led states filed litigation to stop the program and just last week the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision eliminating the program. The Department of Justice plans to quickly file an appeal to that decision to the Supreme Court.
Attending Friday’s rally will be parents like Madai Ledezma. Madai immigrated to the United States 10 years ago from her native Mexico with her husband Jose. The couple has a 7year old daughter US citizen daughter, Heather, and together have been fighting to stop family separation. “I have no idea what would happen to our daughter Heather if we were deported,” Madai remarks, “I can’t bear to think about it.” Madai and Jose will qualify for DAPA if it is implemented.
Also attending the rally will be dozens of English students; parents who despite working two jobs to support their families are graduating from English classes so they can be better involved parents and community members. They will receive their diplomas at the event.
What: Press Conference featuring impacted immigrants and community leaders
Where and When: U.S. Supreme Court, 1 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20543, Friday, November 20, 11:30am
Who: Hundreds of impacted immigrants from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, 32BJ SEIU, CASA, UFCW Local 400, and more
