LA LUCHA SIGUE/THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE (IMMIGRANT) CONTINUES

As a member of the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) advocacy committee I volunteered to draft a statement IF the U.S. Supreme Court did not decide in favor of President Obama's Executive Order.  Here is the statement that I had hoped that I would not have to write. 

Statement on United States v. Texas Decision
Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice – IMIrJ
June 24, 2016
 
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR OREGON
AND THE U.S.

June 23, 2016 could have been a historic day for more than 5 million undocumented persons in the United States - but it was not.  The U.S. Supreme Court, with only eight members, tied 4-4 on President Obama’s Executive Order to expand deferred action on childhood arrivals (DACA) and for parents whose children are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (DAPA). 

The Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice joins our allies and friends across the nation in dismay and disappointment over this ruling that will create fear and heartache for millions across the country who risk having their families torn apart due to our broken immigration system.

But we also pledge our commitment, energy, and passion as people of faith and conscience to ensure that families are not divided and that children have the chance to complete their education. We know that we are called to welcome the stranger and protect all families.

Deferred action is not a pathway to U.S. citizenship.  It would provide children enrolled in school the opportunity to complete high school and enter college without fear of deportation. The Executive Order recognizes that children are not responsible for the decision to migrate to the United States.
 
More than 11, 000 Oregon children and young adultshave benefitted from the original DACA decision in 2012.  The Supreme Court’s indecision does not affect this program. Individuals eligible for this program may still apply. More than 63,000 Oregonians would have been eligible for expanded DACA and DAPA.  Now this will not happen because the Supreme Court’s indecision returns the case to the lower court that upheld the state of Texas challenge to the President’s order.
 
The Executive Order of 2014 sought to provide “relief” to 5 million undocumented people living in fear of deportation. They are the farm workers, harvesting our food, women taking care of the very young and elderly, and men in construction jobs building new homes and office buildings.  They are contributing to the wealth of our society, and they are raising their children as Americans.  There are an estimated 120,000 undocumented persons in Oregon.
 
We join the call for President Obama to make sure that families and communities are kept together by declaring a moratorium on deportations immediately.
 
The member faith communities and individuals of the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice believe that no human being is illegal and that the inhumane deportation of children and families must end.  We will continue to raise our voices for the safety, welcome, and dignity of all immigrants and refugees. We will never cease to challenge unjust laws. We will never cease to love our neighbors.

*****************************************************************************************************************************

For two excellent articles about the U.S. Supreme Court and the meaning of a 4-4 tie non-decision as well as an update on Central American refugees caught in Mexico from this Sunday's New York Times, (6/27/16) ​www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/opinion/sunday/the-supreme-courts-silent-failure-on-immigration.html?_r=0  and by Nicholas Kristof, www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/opinion/sunday/obamas-death-sentence-for-young-refugees.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fnicholas-kristof&action=click&contentCollection=opinion&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection


The U.S. Presidential contest is extremely important and will determine whether we have ever achieve real immigration reform and a recognition of the contribution of immigrants to our society in the past, present and future. 

​Stay tuned for more blogs on this important issue!

​