Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on the Anniversary of the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration
Washington, DC – Today marks the one-year anniversary of President Barack Obama's announcement of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) policy and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
DAPA would protect parents of U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident children from deportation and allow them to apply for work permits. DACA applies to people who were brought to this country as children. Both programs are currently being held up in federal court.
Congressman Ruben Gallego issued the following statement:
"A year after President Obama announced relief for immigrant families, the DACA expansion and the DAPA program remain mired in a lawsuit that is nothing but a political stunt. Millions of families who would benefit from these programs remain in limbo due to ongoing legal challenges and partisan rulings by a conservative court hand-selected by Republicans.
"Republicans want to deport the parents of 5 million U.S. citizens, and young people who are American in every way except on paper. That's unconscionable and goes against our values as nation built by immigrants.
"The DACA program has allowed thousands of young people to come out of the shadows, attain greater opportunities and access higher education. The DAPA program would allow the parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to do the same.
"I will continue to work with the tireless advocates who are fighting to protect DACA and DAPA. I know that we will win, and that relief will be granted to these families who only want to stay together.
"It's time for my Republican colleagues to stop playing games and start doing their jobs. Let's get to work and reform our broken immigration system."
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