LCLAA Applauds the Supreme Court’s Ruling on DACA
Media Statement
18 June 2020
Washington D.C.- Today the Supreme Court rejected Trump administration’s intention to dismantle the Obama-era program known as DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This crucial program currently shields an estimated 650,000 Dreamers from deportation.
Nearly 800,000 young immigrants have benefited from DACA since 2012, however for the past two years the Trump administration has attempted to “wind down” on DACA, disregarding the economic impact that they have on our nation’s economic stability. DACA has thus far allowed for 90 percent of its recipients to legally have a job, 45 percent of Dreamers are in school, and 30,000 of them work in the healthcare industry, meaning they have played a decisive role in fighting COVID-19.
Unequivocally, this 5-4 ruling represents a victory, for Latinos and immigrants across our nation, as those who participate in the program will be able to continue renewing their status. Yet this Administration could opt to rescind the program once again, which is why it is our responsibility to continue mobilizing and advocating for a pathway to citizenship for these young women and men who constitute a vital part of our nation’s society.
“This ruling represents- without a doubt – a reason to celebrate. For the past two years, Dreamers across our nation have lived in limbo, tormented by uncertainty stemmed from this administration’s racist attempt to end a program that allows them to live in this, their country.” said Yanira Merino, LCLAA National President. “We will continue fighting to ensure that DACA is amended, so that it can provide these young women and men with a pathway to citizenship.”
“Today, justice prevailed as the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decisions of several lower courts blocking the Trump administration from terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program,” said Evelyn Dejesus AFT Executive Vice President.
“For the past few weeks our nation has taken to the streets the fight against systemic racism. Today’s ruling reflects our nation’s plea for justice and equality, while at the same time shedding light on this administration’s attacks on black and brown people,” said Jose Vargas LCLAA, National Secretary Treasurer. “However, this is not the end of the road. Far from it. We must continue taking to the streets, advocating, and ultimately electing officials capable of upholding our nation’s true values, this must be our priority and our legacy.”
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The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers’ rights and their influence in the political process. LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership. Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.