GALEO JOINS MORE THAN 150 CIVIL, LABOR, AND IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS GROUPS ON AMICUS BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF DHS IMMIGRATION ACTIONS
Brief Filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Asks Court to Lift Block on Expanded DACA and DAPA
Press Release
Immediate Release
April 6, 2015
Contact: Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO, jerry@2014old.galeo.org, 404.745.2580
[ATLANTA, GA] – President Obama’s immigration actions would allow millions of immigrants to apply for relief from deportation and work authorization and would improve the nation’s economy and society, charged civil and immigrants’ rights groups in an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief filed today. This brief was one of several in support of the Obama administration’s immigration actions, which economists predict will raise the GDP by more than $200 billion over the next ten years.
“Georgia’s economy will be strengthened and thousands of immigrant families will benefit through the implementation of the expanded deferred action efforts by President Obama. This should happen without delay. Until we get a form of immigration reform from our U.S. Congress, this is a significant step forward to be able to prioritize scarce resources within the Department of Homeland Security,” said Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO.
On February 17, 2015, a federal district court blocked implementation of expansion of an initiative that would have allowed certain immigrants who arrived in this country as children to apply for deportation relief and work authorization (known as an expansion of DACA). The court also blocked implementation of an initiative that would have allowed certain immigrant parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply for deportation relief and work authorization (known as DAPA.)
Groups argue that delays in implementation harm the nation’s economy and prevent aspiring Americans from more fully participating in their communities. The brief features profiles of small business owners, primary breadwinners, and social activists who would be able to increase their economic and societal contributions if granted the relief proposed by DACA and DAPA.
Among those profiled are Rosalva and Fidel, parents of three U.S. citizen children, one of whom recently completed basic training with the U.S. National Guard. Rosalva, a small business owner, would be able to operate her business and move about her Indiana community without fear of deportation if she were granted DAPA.
Today’s filings are the latest legal step in Texas et al. v. United States et al., the 27-state challenge to the administration’s immigration actions. On April 17, the Fifth Circuit will hear oral argument in a request for emergency stay of the lower court injunction. If granted, the emergency stay would allow the U.S. government to begin implementation of the DAPA and DACA initiatives.
To read the brief, visit [LINK].
###
About Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)
GALEO’s mission is to increase civic engagement and leadership of the Latino/Hispanic community across Georgia.
CORE BELIEFS: Inclusive, Non-Partisan, Diversity, Responsive