FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2020
CONTACT: Sam Yu | syu@nakasec.org
“Recent speech from ICE Director reveals that DACA is not enough. We must #AbolishICE and demand #Citizenship4All 11 million undocumented immigrants”
Chicago, IL – On January 23, 2020, the Director of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE), Matt Albence released that if the Supreme Court rules against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, then ICE will produce removal orders on DACA recipients whose deportation cases have been reopened.
This statement follows reports that since October, ICE has been reopening closed cases of DACA recipients who had deportation cases against them prior to receiving their DACA protection. [link to full article]
NAKASEC believes that all deportations are inhumane and that no one should be subjected to violent and forced separation from their family, friends, and communities. We condemn Director Albence’s statement and the ICE agency. To re-open these long-closed deportation cases on DACA recipients (or any immigrant) is punitive and morally wicked. People with records deserve a second chance to rebuild their lives with their families and communities. Nobody deserves to be deported, period.
The Trump Administration is proving once again their lack of human regard for the lives of undocumented immigrants. They are trying to use any means necessary to keep families in cages, separated from their loved ones.
We would like to stress that Director Albence’s remarks are targeting DACA recipients who have had previous deportation cases prior to obtaining DACA. We know, however, that this is an escalated attack on our community and that we must protect DACA as a first step to fight back against this threat to their safety.
The Supreme Court has the power to ensure DACA’s continuation and safety. Oral arguments on the DACA program were heard by the Supreme Court on November 12, 2019. The Court will release a final decision any time between now and June 2020.
We demand that the Supreme Court vote to defend DACA and the lives of 700,000 young recipients. It is imperative that they set a clear moral precedent that this country cares about the well-being of immigrants.
We also know that DACA is not enough. Director Albence’s statement shows that Trump and his ICE cronies will keep trying to find baseless excuses to deport our people. What our communities really need is a full pathway to citizenship for all immigrants. We call for the complete abolishment of ICE, the main perpetrators of violence and family separation in our communities.
If you have any questions about this issue or about your rights, please call NAKASEC’s 24/7 Immigration Hotline at 1-844-500-3222. We provide confidential assistance in Korean and English, inform people of their rights, help folks locate their detained loved ones, and direct people to helpful resources as needed.
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Founded in 1994, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)’s mission is to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice. NAKASEC maintains offices in Annandale, Virginia, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California
