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Immigration advocates disappointed but not defeated by supreme court split Immigration advocates disappointed but not defeated by supreme court split
(2 months later)
The long-awaited news from the supreme court was conveyed in a terse sentence: “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court.”The long-awaited news from the supreme court was conveyed in a terse sentence: “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court.”
Beyond the bald language of those nine words, though, is a decision that resonates powerfully and painfully for millions of people who had hoped the court would revitalise Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration, rather than produce a 4-4 tie that preserves a lower court’s order blocking the plans.Beyond the bald language of those nine words, though, is a decision that resonates powerfully and painfully for millions of people who had hoped the court would revitalise Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration, rather than produce a 4-4 tie that preserves a lower court’s order blocking the plans.
Related: Obama's sweeping immigration reforms blocked in 4-4 supreme court deadlock
The stalled programmes known as expanded Daca and Dapa would give as many as 4 million to 5 million immigrants in the US the chance to apply for deportation relief and work permits.The stalled programmes known as expanded Daca and Dapa would give as many as 4 million to 5 million immigrants in the US the chance to apply for deportation relief and work permits.
“We were very excited today. We thought we were going to have a positive outcome, but today’s a setback,” said Laura Alvarado through a translator on Thursday. The 50-year-old is a janitor in Houston who came to the US from Mexico 12 years ago and expected to qualify through her 11-year-old daughter, an American citizen. “I had a lot of hopes,” she said, her daughter by her side before a press conference held by pro-immigrant groups in Houston.“We were very excited today. We thought we were going to have a positive outcome, but today’s a setback,” said Laura Alvarado through a translator on Thursday. The 50-year-old is a janitor in Houston who came to the US from Mexico 12 years ago and expected to qualify through her 11-year-old daughter, an American citizen. “I had a lot of hopes,” she said, her daughter by her side before a press conference held by pro-immigrant groups in Houston.
“I do feel let down because when we feel like we’re close to victory something gets in the way. I feel like politicians are playing with our lives … [for] people like me, who have kids, who pay taxes, who work really hard, it’s unjust what happened today.”“I do feel let down because when we feel like we’re close to victory something gets in the way. I feel like politicians are playing with our lives … [for] people like me, who have kids, who pay taxes, who work really hard, it’s unjust what happened today.”
“Quite frankly it’s a very outrageous decision. Five million people have been waiting for deportation relief and work permits for close to a year-and-a-half, and now it’s really disappointing that now the case continues,” said Sheridan Aguirre, 22, a communications coordinator with United We Dream, a youth-led organisation.“I am undocumented, I have Daca but both of my parents are eligible for Dapa. They’ve been waiting since the day of the decision to be able to move forward with their dreams of opening up their own businesses, and quite frankly just being able to live with our family securely after living in the United States for 20 years.”“Quite frankly it’s a very outrageous decision. Five million people have been waiting for deportation relief and work permits for close to a year-and-a-half, and now it’s really disappointing that now the case continues,” said Sheridan Aguirre, 22, a communications coordinator with United We Dream, a youth-led organisation.“I am undocumented, I have Daca but both of my parents are eligible for Dapa. They’ve been waiting since the day of the decision to be able to move forward with their dreams of opening up their own businesses, and quite frankly just being able to live with our family securely after living in the United States for 20 years.”
Texas was among 26 Republican-led states that sued the Obama administration after the president’s executive action was announced in 2014, arguing that it would be unreasonable for the state to bear the costs of providing drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants. Critics of Obama’s plan also contend that he overstepped his authority in what should be a matter for Congress – which has conspicuously failed to initiate comprehensive immigration reform.Texas was among 26 Republican-led states that sued the Obama administration after the president’s executive action was announced in 2014, arguing that it would be unreasonable for the state to bear the costs of providing drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants. Critics of Obama’s plan also contend that he overstepped his authority in what should be a matter for Congress – which has conspicuously failed to initiate comprehensive immigration reform.
The case now returns to a federal court in Brownsville, on the Texas border with Mexico, where it was heard by Andrew Hanen, a conservative judge with a track record of criticising the Obama administration.The case now returns to a federal court in Brownsville, on the Texas border with Mexico, where it was heard by Andrew Hanen, a conservative judge with a track record of criticising the Obama administration.
But if the program is not struck down by a court, its ultimate fate may still rest on the 2016 election, with Trump having pledged to end the program.But if the program is not struck down by a court, its ultimate fate may still rest on the 2016 election, with Trump having pledged to end the program.
Paloma Martinez, communications director for SEIU Texas, a labour union, said that political inaction will have consequences at the ballot box. “For every person who’s undocumented, they have friends, they have family members, who are voters and they really care about this issue – it’s a voting issue for them,” she said.Paloma Martinez, communications director for SEIU Texas, a labour union, said that political inaction will have consequences at the ballot box. “For every person who’s undocumented, they have friends, they have family members, who are voters and they really care about this issue – it’s a voting issue for them,” she said.
“That’s why SEIU and other immigration activist voters are mobilising to elect people at every level of government who are not only going to be vocal about their support for immigrants but are going to move an agenda that makes sure families are not suffering.”“That’s why SEIU and other immigration activist voters are mobilising to elect people at every level of government who are not only going to be vocal about their support for immigrants but are going to move an agenda that makes sure families are not suffering.”
Advocates said that the president could still make a significant difference in the lives of undocumented immigrants despite Thursday’s outcome by reversing course on his deportation and detention strategies in his final months in the White House.Advocates said that the president could still make a significant difference in the lives of undocumented immigrants despite Thursday’s outcome by reversing course on his deportation and detention strategies in his final months in the White House.
“It is never enough to divide our community into those who deserve relief and those who don’t,” Tania Unzueta, legal and policy director for Not1More, an anti-deportation campaign, said in a statement.“It is never enough to divide our community into those who deserve relief and those who don’t,” Tania Unzueta, legal and policy director for Not1More, an anti-deportation campaign, said in a statement.
“Under President Obama we have witnessed the creation of a parallel mass incarceration system strictly for immigrants. The relief offered by expanding deferred action is desperately needed and entirely constitutional. But even with Dapa, only a fraction of us would be protected. With it now blocked, many more of us still face the threat of the deportation machine that it is incumbent on President Obama to begin to dismantle.”“Under President Obama we have witnessed the creation of a parallel mass incarceration system strictly for immigrants. The relief offered by expanding deferred action is desperately needed and entirely constitutional. But even with Dapa, only a fraction of us would be protected. With it now blocked, many more of us still face the threat of the deportation machine that it is incumbent on President Obama to begin to dismantle.”
Related: The evolution of immigration reform under Obama – a timeline
This year the government has conducted high-profile raids to round up families and young people for deportation as a deterrent strategy, prompting activists to step up campaigns to mobilise opposition and make migrants aware of their rights. They have also set up a hotline to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in local communities.This year the government has conducted high-profile raids to round up families and young people for deportation as a deterrent strategy, prompting activists to step up campaigns to mobilise opposition and make migrants aware of their rights. They have also set up a hotline to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in local communities.
“It’s these kinds of initiatives that are going to help protect the immigrant community while we wait and put pressure for a decision,” said Aguirre, of United We Dream.“It’s these kinds of initiatives that are going to help protect the immigrant community while we wait and put pressure for a decision,” said Aguirre, of United We Dream.
Jessica Huerta, a high school senior who came to the US from Mexico when she was nine, said she would be eligible for expanded Daca and the delay is taking a psychological toll on her family in addition to practical problems such as the difficulty of getting financial aid for college without a social security number.Jessica Huerta, a high school senior who came to the US from Mexico when she was nine, said she would be eligible for expanded Daca and the delay is taking a psychological toll on her family in addition to practical problems such as the difficulty of getting financial aid for college without a social security number.
Her family members are undocumented, and her mother walks to work because she is afraid of being stopped by the police while driving, Huerta said. “Every time I leave they’re just like, ‘Be careful’. We have a fear seeing a cop, we have a fear seeing a cop behind us, in front of us. Watching you drive. They could pull you over and say, ‘Let’s go’… I live with the fear that I might never see my parents again.”Her family members are undocumented, and her mother walks to work because she is afraid of being stopped by the police while driving, Huerta said. “Every time I leave they’re just like, ‘Be careful’. We have a fear seeing a cop, we have a fear seeing a cop behind us, in front of us. Watching you drive. They could pull you over and say, ‘Let’s go’… I live with the fear that I might never see my parents again.”
“I hope if the supreme court gets the chance [to hear the case in future] they’ll remember the people, not just the politics. We’re not objects. I have four kids, the oldest one is 16, he’ll be able to vote in two years and he’ll remember who did not support his parents,” Jose Sic, a 39-year-old from Guatemala who has been in the US since 1996, said through a translator during the press conference.“I hope if the supreme court gets the chance [to hear the case in future] they’ll remember the people, not just the politics. We’re not objects. I have four kids, the oldest one is 16, he’ll be able to vote in two years and he’ll remember who did not support his parents,” Jose Sic, a 39-year-old from Guatemala who has been in the US since 1996, said through a translator during the press conference.
Alvarado, the janitor, said she is disappointed but not defeated. “I have today to cry but tomorrow I’m ready to keep fighting,” she said. “A message to friends and family who can vote – they have to make their voice heard in November.”Alvarado, the janitor, said she is disappointed but not defeated. “I have today to cry but tomorrow I’m ready to keep fighting,” she said. “A message to friends and family who can vote – they have to make their voice heard in November.”