Today, Senator Robert Menendez, immigration advocates, and individuals who would be helped by DAPA and DACA+ spoke about the direct impact the legal case is having on not only their own lives, but the lives of millions of undocumented immigrants across the United States.
Senator Menendez was joined by Kica Matos, Director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change, Alida Garcia, Director of Coalitions & Policy at FWD.us, Father Timothy Kesicki, President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, Areli Zarate, a DACA-mented high school teacher from Austin whose mother is DAPA eligible, Richard Biehl, Dayton Ohio Police Chief, and Juan Carlos, a Maryland resident eligible for the expanded DACA program.
The President’s programs confer protection against deportation and work permits to individuals who are low priority for immigration enforcement and would allow approximately 5 million immigrants living and working in the U.S. to come out of the shadows.
The speakers discussed the importance of DAPA and DACA+, which would not only let millions of immigrants live without the daily fear of deportation, but strengthen the economies of local communities and states. Video of the press conference is available to watch here.
LIVE: @SenatorMenendez, @americasvoice, & others discuss what’s at stake ahead of the #SCOTUS hearing on DACA & DAPA https://t.co/fbGuUFGzfs
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) March 9, 2016
Packed room for the #FightforFamilies press conference! pic.twitter.com/nsI6nxxumr
— Jennifer Molina (@JenMolina_v) March 9, 2016
.@SenatorMenendez says we’re here because #SCOTUS has an opportunity to do something positive. #UnfreezeDAPA pic.twitter.com/t2bGQNjOqn
— Nat’l Imm Law Center (@NILC_org) March 9, 2016
“People’s lives and families are at stake.” –@SenatorMenendez on importance of #DACA and #DAPA #SCOTUS case
— CWS Immigration (@CWS_IRP) March 9, 2016
“We are calling for justice and humanity in keeping our families together.” @SenatorMenendez on #DACA & #DAPA #SCOTUS case
— CWS Immigration (@CWS_IRP) March 9, 2016
“This is about keeping families, mothers, fathers and children together.” Sen Menendez
— Shaina Aber (@Shainaleh) March 9, 2016
.@SenatorMenendez: When it comes to #DAPA, the law is on the side of the President. “Justice will intimately prevail.” #UnfreezeDAPA#SCOTUS
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
Fr. Kesicki of @TheJesuits recalls words of @Pontifex to defend #DAPA. #FightforFamilies
— Nat’l Imm Law Center (@NILC_org) March 9, 2016
.@FrTimSJ, citing the stories of women he has met at the border, ripped away from their children, appealed to SCOTUS to do the right thing
— Shaina Aber (@Shainaleh) March 9, 2016
.@FrTimSJ speaking of the pending Immigration case in front of SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/C9fmWFDkZB
— Shaina Aber (@Shainaleh) March 9, 2016
.@leedsgarcia on the millions of US citizen kids w/undoc immigrant parents: “We shouldn’t turn our back on these children.” #UnfreezeDAPA
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
“La vida y el bienestar de nuestras familias están en limbo” –@SenatorMenendez #FightforFamilies #UnfreezeDAPA pic.twitter.com/jNosWAWRs0
— CAP Acción (@CAP_Accion) March 9, 2016
Areli, a DACA-mented high school teacher from TX: “My story is the story of millions of others.” #UnfreezeDAPA
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
Areli, a DACA-mented teacher: “We are real people with dreams and families and real ties to our communities.” #UnfreezeDAPA
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
HS teacher Areli Zarate tells powerful story about her own family’s #immigration story #UnfreezeDAPA pic.twitter.com/TN7KsGGVGL
— Nat’l Imm Law Center (@NILC_org) March 9, 2016
Areli: “I am here for the millions of others who want nothing more than to walk out of the shadows.” #UnfreezeDAPA
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
Richard Biehl, Dayton Ohio Police Chief: “Deferred action benefits public safety.” #UnfreezeDAPA
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
Chief Biehl explains public safety impact #DAPA could have if allowed to take effect. #FightforFamilies pic.twitter.com/26DPiulXli
— Nat’l Imm Law Center (@NILC_org) March 9, 2016
Dayton Police Chief discussing how DAPA wld help communities be safer by allowing immigrants to not fear reporting crime to police.
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
“I was offered admission to 5 colleges but I had to turn them down…today I work in a restaurant…” #UnfreezeDAPA pic.twitter.com/kGL7mCV5O5
— Alida Garcia (@leedsgarcia) March 9, 2016
Juan Carlos, a DACA+ eligible man from Maryland: “For me, the stakes are high.” #UnfreezeDAPA
— America’s Voice (@americasvoice) March 9, 2016
Juan Carlos talks about fighting hard for #DACA, only to be left out. #FightforFamilies pic.twitter.com/TqrrN57nwt
— Nat’l Imm Law Center (@NILC_org) March 9, 2016
Juan Carlos shares his story and how his family will be able to live without fear with #DACA & #DAPA pic.twitter.com/g6wI5dQr7Q
— CWS Immigration (@CWS_IRP) March 9, 2016
#DACAWorks as a DACAmented teacher I know what it means to live in fear. #Stress #Anxiety #DAPA will work too! #FightforFamilies #SCOTUS
— Cesar Moreno Perez (@profe_c) March 9, 2016
Coalition in support of #DAPA. #FightforFamilies pic.twitter.com/ijs5u9zZds
— Nat’l Imm Law Center (@NILC_org) March 9, 2016