Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) enthusiastically celebrated today’s Supreme Court decision that the current administration cannot end the long-running Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Had the Court ruled differently, it would have resulted in mass deportations of undocumented young adults who were brought into this country as children.
Contact:
Tim McHugh,
media@fcnl.org;
202-903-2515
“As Quakers, we see the Light of God in every person. Our pursuit of just immigration policies starts with this longstanding faith principle. Thankfully, the Supreme Court’s decision affirms our view on the humanity of all people. It is a principle of faith to protect undocumented immigrants, especially children and minors,” said Diane Randall, FCNL’s general secretary. “DACA has supported robust, thriving communities that rely on Dreamers as employees, neighbors, and most importantly, friends and family. We renew our call to prioritize equity and justice for all and no more spending for harmful immigration enforcement practices.”
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on November 12, 2019, regarding the future of roughly 800,000 Dreamers currently living within the United States in legal limbo. While the Court weighed the fate of the DACA program, established in 2012, the House has passed the Dream and Promise Act of 2019. The bill outlines a citizenship process for millions of Dreamers and temporary protected status recipients. The Senate has yet to act on the bill.
“When the administration cancelled temporary protections, the legal status of thousands of long-term community members was thrown into turmoil. But thanks to today’s decision, more than one million individuals who used legal channels to maintain their status are no longer at renewed risk for detention and/or deportation,” said Amelia Kegan, FCNL’s domestic policy legislative director. “Basic compassion and humanity dictate we fully welcome these immigrants into our country once and for all. This problem has gone on long enough. The administration must reinstate the full DACA program, and Congress must move permanent solutions.”
For years, FCNL has been advocating for a just immigration system that provides protection and a path to citizenship for Dreamers. In March 2019, it brought more than 500 young people to Washington to lobby on the issue. In addition, FCNL’s nationwide Advocacy Corps worked on immigration reform and helped protect the DACA program.
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
