CAPAC Commends Obama Administration Announcement of New Immigration Enforcement Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Chair Emeritus, released the following statements in response to the Department of Homeland Security's new process to handle the deportation of DREAM Act students.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), CAPAC Chair

"I commend President Obama and Secretary Napolitano's commitment to ensuring that deportation cases are evaluated in a comprehensive manner that, if implemented fully, will stop the deportation of Dream Act students and other non-criminal individuals.  When CAPAC met with senior White House officials last month, we pushed for comprehensive immigration reform and emphasized the need for full implementation of prosecutorial discretion in the handling of DREAM Act cases.  Today, the Department of Homeland Security has taken a positive step forward in implementing a new process that is both fair and just, and I am hopeful that these measures will set the tone for continued immigration discussions on this matter of significant importance to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community."

Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Chair Emeritus

"As Chair of CAPAC’s Immigration Task Force, I welcome the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed actions as positive steps towards the goal of stopping the deportations of DREAM Act eligible individuals and other non-criminal immigrants.  As CAPAC board members discussed with Valerie Jarrett and other Senior Administration Officials at the White House last month, prosecutorial discretion, as clarified in the “Morton Memo,” must be fully exercised by all DHS personnel at every level.  With over 1.2 million Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) undocumented individuals in the United States, I am cautiously hopeful that these new measures will prevent immigrants with minor violations or no criminal history from being unnecessarily detained and separated from their families."   

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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently Chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.