HISPANIC CAUCUS ON FEDERAL COURT RULING THAT SETS BACK IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

Washington, DC – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the Fifth Circuit's denial of the President's emergency stay request. The Administration filed an emergency stay in February, following an injunction by Texas Federal Judge Andrew Hanen that halted the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program and the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This ruling means the programs cannot go into effect until the final lawsuit is settled later this year.

"Today's denial of the emergency stay is a huge blow to our community. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus stands in solidarity with the millions of affected families – the young children, mothers and fathers who qualify for these executive action programs but cannot take advantage of them. The fear of deportation is a real and devastating burden that many of our Latino families live with, and one that should not continue to consume the lives of undocumented immigrants indefinitely. These families pose no risk to our national security. They pay taxes. And for many, our country is the only home they have ever known.

The ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is deeply disappointing but it is not an ultimate and permanent defeat. The Hispanic Caucus will do everything in its power to see the ultimate implementation of these executive actions. It is our hope that the Administration will appeal this decision, and that the ultimate ruling will be in our favor. The need to address our nation's broken immigration system is too great to delay."