U.S. Dept. of Justice Takes a Strong Stand for Immigrant Families

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice today announced it would file a stay to lift the injunction that temporarily blocks the implementation of two important immigration initiatives announced by President Obama in November, 2014. This is the latest legal step in Texas et al. v. United States of America, et al., the 26-state challenge to initiatives that, once implemented, will allow millions of immigrants who meet certain requirements to come forward and apply for relief from deportation and temporary work authorization. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, an organization that filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case:

“Today, the Department of Justice took a strong stand to stop unnecessary delays in the implementation of these important immigration initiatives, which were blocked in a decision that was so clearly outside the legal mainstream, we are confident it will be overturned.

“Immigrant families are ready for the opportunity to contribute more fully to the country they call home. Localities and states have lauded the initiatives as sound public policy that will boost their economies. Law enforcement leaders have explained that these initiatives will improve public safety for all communities.

“The Department of Justice is standing on the right side of the law and on the right side of history. We – as immigrants and as Americans – have waited for nearly a quarter century for these much-needed improvements to our broken immigration system. We should not allow a flawed legal decision to delay these changes any longer.”

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