FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

Department of Justice Takes a Stand for Immigrant Families

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice today submitted a forceful letter to the Supreme Court opposing Texas’s request for additional time to reply to the Obama administration’s petition for certiorari in Texas v. United States, the case that has put DAPA and the expansion of DACA, two of President Obama’s executive initiatives on immigration, on hold. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“The Obama administration recognizes that justice delayed is justice denied in Texas v. U.S. We applaud the administration for boldly defending its policies and urging the Supreme Court to review this case this term. Our families have waited long enough. It’s time for the Court to deliver justice for aspiring Americans and their children.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

Obama Administration Files Formal Request for Supreme Court Review of Executive Actions on Immigration

WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Department of Justice formally filed its request, known as a petition for writ of certiorari, for the Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling that temporarily blocks implementation of President Obama’s executive initiatives that would provide work permits and protection from deportation to as many as five million undocumented immigrants. The Obama administration’s request that the Supreme Court review the case, Texas, et al. v. United States, et al., comes on the one-year anniversary of the president’s announcement of the initiatives.

Marielena Hincapié, NILC’s executive director, issued the following statement:

“One year ago, immigrant communities and parents seeking a better life for their children celebrated as the president announced new protections that would provide relief from uncertainty and constant fear of deportation. Immigrant parents, workers, students, and youth fought hard to obtain this significant policy victory.

“Unfortunately, one year later immigrant families continue to live with the fear of deportation and a level of insecurity that has a devastating effect on their children. We are determined to see these important protections become a reality. With this swift filing by the Department of Justice for Supreme Court review, the Court has plenty of time to hear the case this term and provide stability to the millions of families stuck in legal limbo.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

House of Representatives Fails Test of True Moral Leadership

WASHINGTON — Avideh Moussavian, policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, issued this statement following today’s House approval of H.R. 4038:

“Today, in deciding the fate of vulnerable Syrian and Iraqi refugees, the House of Representatives took a vote that tested our nation’s moral leadership. Unfortunately, the House failed that test.

“At issue was an anti-refugee bill that would freeze U.S. refugee resettlement programs for Syrian and Iraqi refugees—many of them children—fleeing violence, oppression, and the very persecution our government claims to want to end. By voting to support H.R. 4038, the House has sent the shameful message that vulnerable refugees seeking safe haven are not welcome in the United States.

“In contrast to President Obama’s unequivocal statement of opposition to H.R. 4038 and commitment to veto the bill, fear-mongering prevailed in the House. The anti-immigrant rhetoric sank to a new low, with politicians targeting people based on their country of origin and religion.

“As members of Congress get ready to head home to partake in bountiful Thanksgiving dinners, we challenge them to remember the suffering of refugees who have been denied the grace of American hearts and values.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

Governors’ Anti-Refugee Position Is Immoral and Illegal

States may not choose to slam the door on Syrian refugees

WASHINGTON — In the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris, France, nearly half of the U.S.’s state governors have declared that Syrian refugees are no longer welcome in their states. Other elected officials have asserted that the U.S. should admit only Christian refugees from Syria. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.

“America has a long and rich history of serving as a beacon of hope for people seeking refuge from oppression and violence. It’s no mystery why leaders of both parties have historically welcomed refugees with open arms: The refugees of decades past have gone on to become an integral part of the fabric of our communities, and their contributions—both economic and societal—make us stronger.

“Our proud history makes even more disheartening the current partisan declarations about shutting the door on vulnerable Syrian families fleeing violence. Those asserting that refugees are not welcome—either because of their country of origin or their faith—are acting out of small-minded panic and nativism.

“Their policy proposals aren’t just immoral, they are unconstitutional. For over a century, the Supreme Court has made clear that states may not pick and choose which parts of immigration law, or which immigrants, they want to respect. Nor can they decide which country’s refugees should be sheltered from persecution. Simply put, there is no place under federal immigration law for the discriminatory preferences of any individual governor.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]

National Immigration Law Center Applauds Justice Department Decision to Seek Supreme Court Review in Texas v. U.S.

NEW ORLEANS — Following news today that the U.S. Department of Justice has chosen to appeal a federal appeals court ruling that blocked implementation of executive actions to provide work permits and protection from deportation to as many as five million undocumented immigrants, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“This swift decision from the Department of Justice to appeal the flawed ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit means the only thing standing between millions of immigrants and relief from constant fear and uncertainty are the nine justices on the Supreme Court.

“It’s now up to the Supreme Court to put the remaining legal questions to rest so that the over 5 million U.S. citizen children whose parents are eligible for DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) can finally have stability and be free from the fear that they will one day be separated from their parents.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 202-384-1275, [email protected]

Fifth Circuit Upholds Preliminary Injunction in Texas v. U.S.

National Immigration Law Center: “The power of our movement is greater than the sum of any anti-immigrant judgment”

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit today upheld the preliminary injunction put in place by a district court in Texas, et al. v. United States, et al., the lawsuit challenging President Obama’s immigration-related executive actions. The initiatives being challenged — Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — would allow millions of immigrants to apply for work authorization and protection from deportation. This ruling paves the way for the administration to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“The power of our movement is greater than the sum of any anti-immigrant decision. Those behind these attacks are standing in the way of progress and we will not stand down. As history has shown us, progress is inevitable. The court’s flawed ruling today is inconsistent with even the most basic legal principles. While it is clear that our fight is far from over, the power of our voices and our votes will eventually prevail and bring about change. We will not deviate from a future in which all immigrants are treated with dignity and justice.

“The stark opposition from Texas and other suing states is nothing less than a partisan attack on our families and communities. The most directly impacted are the five million U.S. citizen children whose parents would be eligible for temporary relief from deportation. We will continue working hard to ensure that families stay together, have access to health care, are protected in the workplace, and live without the constant fear of deportation.

“We now call on the Department of Justice to seek Supreme Court review immediately, where we are more likely to obtain justice for our communities. In the meantime, we are prepared to continue the fight for immigrant rights — in the courtrooms, in our communities, and at the ballot box.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 202-384-1275, [email protected]

Empowering U.S. Workers with the POWER Act

WASHINGTON — The National Immigration Law Center applauds Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and her cosponsors for the reintroduction of the Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation (POWER) Act, which would protect the labor and civil rights of immigrant workers.

The POWER Act would remove the threat of deportation as a form of retaliation against workers who organize for safe working conditions and fair wages. It has the support of a broad and diverse cross-section of labor, civil rights, and immigrants’ rights organizations that, collectively, represent millions of working people across the United States.

Key provisions of the bill include expanding eligibility for U visas for workers who are involved in a workplace claim and who fear or have been threatened with force, physical restraint, serious harm, or other abuses. The POWER Act also would allow stays of removal and employment authorization for workers who have filed or are material witnesses in a workplace claim. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“Our current immigration and labor systems provide a perverse incentive for abusive employers to exploit immigrant workers, undercutting honest employers who are trying to play by the rules and depressing working conditions for all workers. This is bad for our communities, our families, and our economy.

“These exploitative employers have a history of calling immigration agents when workers begin to assert their labor rights. The collusion between bad bosses and immigration agents interferes with labor rights and civil rights, and complaints about unpaid wages, sexual harassment, or dangerous working conditions are conveniently forgotten.

“In the absence of commonsense immigration reform, Congress must give serious consideration to the POWER Act. This sensible legislation will protect our economy, create a level playing field for employers, and promote fair wages and working conditions for all workers. The best way to hold abusive employers liable is to strengthen labor protections for immigrant workers who courageously take a stand against labor violations.”

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