For Immediate Release:
September 6, 2014
Contact:
Emily Kessel, NAKASEC, eakessel@nakasec.org
NAKASEC and Affiliates Express Outrage Over the President’s Delay
WASHINGTON DC – Today, the White House announced that the President will delay executive action on immigration until November after the mid-term elections. The decision comes only days after NAKASEC and its affiliates delivered 5,000 postcards from Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country to the White House on September 4, demanding that President Obama act bold on administrative relief now.
The following is a joint statement by Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, executive director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC), Hee Joo Yoon, executive director of the Korean Resource Center (KRC), and Inhe Choi, executive director of the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center (KRCC):
“We are disheartened by the news that President Obama has chosen politics over the immigrant community. The President promised to push for immigration reform, and when this proved unsuccessful he promised to act where Congress had failed. Every day community members come to NAKASEC, KRC, and KRCC inquiring whether the President will expand deferred action and provide the overdue relief to suffering family members living in fear of deportation. We brought thousands of postcards that reflect community voices and demonstrated the urgent need for President Obama to act as soon as possible. We have been preparing for the announcement and meeting with USCIS and other offices to discuss how we can best work together. Now, we have to tell our community members that the President has decided to go back on his promise. Every day, week, and month that the immigrant community is denied relief, hardworking families will continue to suffer. This news is an utter disappointment. We will continue to fight so that our communities will no longer lose out to politics.”
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Video of press conference in front of White House (here)
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The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans on major social justice issues. NAKASEC maintains offices in Annandale, Virginia and Los Angeles, California. NAKASEC has affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center).
