We Remain Committed to Keeping Families Together

This week, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Department of Justice’s request for an emergency stay to lift an injunction against the president’s administrative relief programs, expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA+) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), so they could move forward. The court’s decision leaves in limbo millions of American families as they wait to apply for the two programs.

This is not the end of legal proceedings on this matter, however, as an appeal of the preliminary injunction is scheduled for the week of July 6. While this is a setback, this is not the end of the long and arduous legal road. It is important to note that the Fifth Circuit Court has still not decided on the full appeal of the case to lift the injunction.

“Our community remains steadfast in our commitment to keeping hardworking families together,” said Clarissa Martinez-De-Castro, NCLR Deputy Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, in a statement. “Not only will these executive actions bring relief to millions of American families, they are in the best interest of this nation’s economy and national security.”

Martinez-De-Castro further highlighted how those who are blocking relief in order to settle a score with the president are alienating the large and influential voting bloc of Latinos who “will remember these very personal attacks on our families and our community come Election Day,” said Martínez-De-Castro. “It should not be lost on anyone that a key function of the president is to nominate federal judges, and for the Senate to ‘advise and consent’ to those nominations. We will continue to remind our community that by exercising their power at the ballot box, they can help determine who will be making judicial decisions that, with the stroke of a pen, can snatch potential lawful status away from millions.”