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Statement

Last Night’s Court Ruling Makes It Even More Urgent that Congress Provide a Path to Citizenship for Dreamers

September 14, 2023
Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Claudia Tristán, Immigration Campaign Director at MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on last night’s ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Andrew S. Hanen on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“When Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled against DACA in Texas v. United States last night, he once again intensified the chaos and hardship facing some 600,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children, jeopardizing their ability to live and work in the only place most have ever called home. While we are grateful that the DACA program remains in place for now, last night’s ruling makes it even more urgent that Congress finally do its job by passing permanent protections for Dreamers.

“DACA recipients have been forced to live in limbo for too long, creating rippling harms to their families and communities. More than 300,000 children of DACA recipients are spread across the country, and many live in terror that their families will be torn apart, creating a new form of family separation. DACA recipients are valued members of our communities and our workforce who deserve the chance to live, learn, and work without fear of having their lives upended through deportation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one million DACA recipients formed part of the essential workforce who helped keep our parents and children healthy and alive. Without the critical work of these incredible caregivers, our families and our nation would not be recovering as we are.

“Ending DACA would create an economic and humanitarian catastrophe for our country. Congress must finally do what the majority of voters want and give Dreamers permanent protections. That’s what America’s moms support and what our economy and our country need.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.