Today, Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas - who previously ruled the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal - is taking another look following the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that while the implementation of the DACA in 2012 was illegal, it merited further analysis because the Biden Administration codified a new version.

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: [VA] Jasmine Leu, jleu@aafcfund.org; [TX] Quynh-Huong Nguyen, quynh-huong@aafcfund.org

Asian Americans For Change Fund Responds to DACA Ruling: The Fight for Citizenship for All Continues

Annandale, VA – Today, Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas - who previously ruled the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal - is taking another look following the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that while the implementation of the DACA in 2012 was illegal, it merited further analysis because the Biden Administration codified a new version. Anticipating a loss in the appeals court, the Biden administration in August codified DACA into regulatory law and rescinded the 2012 memo by then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that originally created DACA.

For now DACA remains intact for over 600,000 current recipients while first-time applications remain on hold. DACA was an executive order implemented by former President Obama to provide work permits and protection from deportation to eligible immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. The temporary program requires that the DACA status and work permit be renewed every two years.

Asian Americans For Change Fund - Virginia released the following statement in response:

“This recent ruling highlights how at risk DACA recipients are of losing these protections. DACA is only a temporary solution for a small subset of the undocumented community. What’s needed is Congressional action to pass legislation that establishes a path to citizenship that creates permanent protection. This is why Asian Americans for Change Fund is actively educating and mobilizing Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in the 10th Congressional District in Virginia to elect the candidate who supports a path to citizenship - Jennifer Wexton.

Undocumented immigrants are critical to our nation’s infrastructure - building families, starting businesses, working essential roles, and paying taxes. Without the security of U.S. citizenship, millions of immigrants and their families live with the fear of being separated from their loved ones through deportation, and are denied access to critical public benefits and rights like healthcare, higher education, driver’s licenses, and gainful employment.

At a recent forum, her opponent Hung Cao said, “We need higher walls and wide gates” - which goes to show how he and Republicans rely on expensive and ineffective tactics as a crutch instead of actually addressing the root problem and existing humanitarian crisis. Republicans continue to use border politics to divide the public and leverage people’s lives and safety as bargaining chips, despite poll after poll that shows Americans across political parties broadly support protecting the DACA program and a path to citizenship. Cao’s only solution to this crisis is to tell people to “get back in line” - a line that doesn’t exist for the vast majority of the undocumented folks.

If Republicans win the majority in both the House and Senate during November’s midterm elections, more futures will be put on hold and it will be even more challenging to pass necessary reforms to America’s broken immigration system. We need to elect candidates who will protect and expand the rights of all the people who call this country home, including those who are currently unable to vote.”

Asian Americans For Change Fund - Texas released the following statement in response:

“Many DACA recipients are parents, children, students, workers – hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have depended on this program for protection from deportation and the ability to legally work. At the same time, we know that DACA is NOT enough. It was never enough, as there are millions more people who are ineligible for the temporary program. Our communities have been fighting for a permanent solution, but our elected leaders have failed to act. Congress and the White House have neglected and targeted our communities for decades, all while benefiting from our labor, taxes, and community contributions. Congress must listen to our demands and act now to pass a permanent and progressive pathway to citizenship for our undocumented communities. On top of Congress, local and state leaders play a pivotal role in providing support, resources, and opportunities for these communities. That is why Asian Americans For Change Fund is supporting progressive local and state candidates in Texas who have committed to end collaboration with ICE and increase access to public resources and funding regardless of immigration status.”

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Asian Americans for Change Fund seeks to organize, empower, and mobilize Asian Americans – communities of West Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and East Asian descent – to engage in the democratic process. We envision a world where all people are able to pursue their highest dreams, live with their loved ones, and participate fully in their democracy. Learn more at aafcfund.org.