Washington, D.C. — Today, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that it will grant cert in the case of United States v. Texas, where the U.S. Department of Justice filed for a review of the federal appeals court ruling that has blocked implementation of expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA. Tom Jawetz, Vice President of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This is a momentous day for the millions of DREAMers and all American families that would benefit from the implementation of DAPA and the expansion of DACA. These initiatives are based upon strong legal and historical precedent and are entirely legitimate exercises of discretion delegated years ago by Congress. We hope the Supreme Court of the United States will do the right thing: reject this politically motivated lawsuit, respect the authority of the secretary of homeland security to set smart national immigration enforcement policies, and unfreeze DAPA and expanded DACA.
Nearly 4 million people could be eligible to apply for temporary protection from deportation under DAPA and expanded DACA. But the benefits would flow to millions more family members—mostly American children—who would be liberated from the fear of losing a parent or spouse. The economic and societal impacts of DAPA and expanded DACA would affect the country as a whole. As of today, the nation has forgone nearly $3.5 billion in gross domestic product that could have been gained if not for the injunction. And each day that passes until the Court issues its decision and lifts the injunction, we will forgo another $29.9 million.
The immigrant community, which is an integral economic and social force in this country, deserves a chance to gain legal status. DAPA and expanded DACA are important first steps, and we will continue fighting for the community until the unauthorized population as a whole, which contributes to the fabric of this nation of immigrants, has a chance to earn a pathway to citizenship.
Center for American Progress experts are available to comment on this topic. To reach an expert, please contact Tanya S. Arditi at [email protected] or 202.741.6258.
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