For Immediate Release
April 17, 2015
Contact: Emily Kessel, eakessel@nakasec.org
In The End We Will Win: Virginia Continues to Push Forward Despite the Lengthy Legal Process on DACA Expansion & DAPA Lawsuit
NAKASEC, VACOLAO, Dreamers Moms USA, and Virginia Latina Advocacy Network urge the immigrant community to continue to protect DACA and DAPA by continuing to prepare for enrollment and apply for DACA 1 if eligible.
Annandale, Virginia— Today, the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) hosted a press conference with Edgar Aranda-Yanoc, Chair of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO); Lenka Mendoza, Founder and National Coordinator of Dreamers Moms USA; and Margie Del Castillo, Field Coordinator at Virginia Latina Advocacy Network, to reassure the immigrant community in Virginia and nationwide that Friday’s hearing is yet another step in what is a long court battle, but in the end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) will be here to stay and implemented.
Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, executive director of NAKASEC said: “The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals should follow the law and allow expanded DACA and DAPA to go into effect now. 92,000 individuals in Virginia could benefit from DACA and DAPA, many of whom are Korean American or Asian American. And these programs are predicted to significantly help the economy by generating $221.1 million new tax revenue in Virginia alone. Ultimately, we need to continue to protect these immigration actions we fought so hard to achieve, both in the courts and in our communities. We will win because keeping families together is a value our community will not forgo or compromise. Let’s raise our immigrant voice by signing onto the community petition letter for DACA/DAPA, continuing to apply for DACA 1, and preparing in advance to apply for expanded DACA and DAPA so when the programs are implemented, we are ready to enroll and start benefiting.”
Current Situation:
On Friday, April 17, two hours of oral arguments, on the emergency motion (“stay”) asking the court to allow the expanded DACA and DAPA programs to go into effect while the litigation over the validity of the injunction continues, will be heard by a three panel of judge in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The pro-immigrant argument is that legal basis for these policies is strong and well-established and the precedent for these policies extends back 60 years. The preliminary injunction is a political dispute over policy disguised as a legal challenge, meritless from the beginning. The Fifth Circuit has already noted that a case needs to consider both costs and benefits. District Court Judge Hanen of Brownsville, Texas only looked at the fiscal costs and refused to take into account the tax revenue benefits, specifically regarding Texas’ drivers’ licenses. The best case scenario for April 17th is the panel could reach a ruling that Texas did not have standing and/or send the case back to have it dismissed.
On a separate track, the federal government has also appealed the preliminary injunction itself, but this hearing has not yet been scheduled. There is broad support from the Department of Justice; legal scholars and public officials; and immigrant, labor, and faith organizations for the appeal of the preliminary injunction.
To sign on to the community petition letter, please click here or visit the NAKASEC website and click ‘Take Action to Support DACA + DAPA’.
For more information or to receive updates on administrative relief, please visit nakasec.org or iAmerica.org/kor.
###
For NAKASEC photos and video, please follow us on Facebook (link) and Twitter (@nakasec)
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 and Orange County (Korean Resource Center).
