Supreme Court Immigration Ruling Is a Testament to Immigrant Justice Movement’s Strength
WASHINGTON – Today, with 4-4 tie, the U.S. Supreme Court did not make a decision on the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. This means that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to uphold an injunction on the program remains in place. President Obama put DAPA and DACA in place after historic organizing from immigrant rights groups and communities of color to protect millions of young people, parents and workers from deportation. Advancement Project, a national, multi-racial civil rights organization, released the following statement along with the Florida Immigrant Coalition:
“The immigrant justice movement is on the right side of history, and no judicial decision can change that,” said Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of Advancement Project’s national office in Washington, D.C. “Time and again, the immigrant justice movement has proven its resilience. Through bold, strategic organizing, the same movement that produced DACA in 2012 gained strength and won an uphill battle to expand the program in 2014. We wished for a different outcome – one that would have brought communities closer to living safer, fuller lives with more dignity. But the immigrant justice movement is poised to capitalize on the momentum it has built. The same courage and boldness that pushed the envelope on immigrant justice will only continue to expand power and influence for people of color. From Phoenix to Miami to Raleigh, communities of color are subject to increased policing, surveillance and criminalization. Today the movement is stronger and even more prepared to usher in victories for communities of color across the country.”
“Through sheer heart and will, the immigrant justice movement swayed a nation and a president toward justice and fairness,” said María Rodríguez, Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, an Advancement Project partner. “Even as we disagree with the court’s decision, we recognize how far our volunteers, supporters, organizers, parents, siblings and relatives have brought the movement. Here in Florida, that strength translated into unlikely victories like in-state tuition for undocumented youth. We will continue to build on our power to hold xenophobic politicians accountable and create a more fair, safe and equitable system, and to further the decriminalization of communities of color.”
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Advancement Project is a multi-racial civil rights organization. Founded by a team of veteran civil rights lawyers in 1999, Advancement Project was created to develop and inspire community-based solutions based on the same high quality legal analysis and public education campaigns that produced the landmark civil rights victories of earlier eras.
