CAPAC Statement on U.S. v. Texas Supreme Court Case

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in U.S. v. Texas, the case regarding President Obama’s executive actions to provide temporary relief from deportation for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and eligible parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. The implementation of the President’s expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program has been halted due to ongoing litigation. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:

“Today, over one million undocumented AAPI individuals are living in fear that they will be separated from their families due to our broken immigration system. That is why, when Republican leaders were unwilling to act on comprehensive immigration reform, CAPAC fought hard for the expansion of DACA and the creation of the new DAPA program as part of the President’s executive actions on immigration. The Supreme Court decision that will stem from today’s oral arguments will affect millions of aspiring Americans who have already put down roots in our communities and are contributing to our economy. Tearing those families apart would be costly and contrary to our nation’s values. That is why Members of Congress, governors, mayors, and legal scholars from across the country have spoken out in support of these actions.  And that is why I am confident that the Court will do the right thing both legally and morally, and uphold President Obama’s programs as lawful exercises of executive discretion.”

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI):

“This morning, I joined thousands of immigration reform advocates, DREAMers, and allies at the Supreme Court to call on the Justices to uphold President Obama’s DAPA and expanded DACA programs. It’s clear that the Administration is acting within existing authority that grants the Department of Homeland Security broad discretion to determine how to best enforce our country’s immigration laws, and I hope the Court will find in favor of millions of families working toward a better life.”

Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17), CAPAC Immigration Task Force Chair:

“I am confident the Court will find that President Obama’s executive actions are fully within his authority. The DAPA and expanded DACA programs will stop the families of kids who are citizens or green card holders from being broken up, and will protect undocumented young people who don’t know any home other than the United States. Tearing families apart is an embarrassment to a nation founded by immigrants. Whether you are Korean, Mexican or Jamaican, immigrants are integral parts of our local communities and our national economy. Today, I am proud to continue the fight for families and I promise to continue to work in Congress towards comprehensive immigration reform to uplift all immigrant families.”

Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), CAPAC Whip:

“In 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions on immigration to bring millions of immigrants out of the shadows and keep immigrant families together. Those actions were challenged by a partisan Republican governor and blocked by two of the most conservative courts in the country. As a result, residents and workers in American communities across the country continue to live in fear of being separated from their loved ones. Today, the Supreme Court will hear the case, which will ultimately determine the fate of five million people. The Supreme Court’s job is not to set immigration policy, nor is it to project the positive and negative effects of providing relief to immigrant families. Its role is to determine whether the president was within his constitutional authority in signing the executive actions. Any objective legal analysis will find the answer to that question is yes. I look forward to the Court ultimately lifting the block on these actions and allowing this country to fully enjoy the contributions of our immigrant communities.”

Congressman Ami Bera (CA-07):

“There’s no doubt that the United States needs an immigration policy that makes our country safe and our economy strong. Now more than ever, Democrats and Republicans must work together to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that secures our borders, allows our economy to grow, and ensures accountability for new American immigrants. That is why I signed on to an amicus brief in support of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, both of which reflect common-sense immigration laws.  I will continue to work with all levels of government in any way I can to achieve a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that addresses the immigration issues we face.”

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13):

“Our nation’s immigration system is fundamentally broken; it unfairly and cruelly tears too many families apart. In 2014, President Obama used his executive authority to implement DAPA and expand DACA. These programs would have brought millions out of the shadows and kept families together. However, conservatives decided to waste valuable resources and push this challenge forward with the help of hardline, activist judges. I am confident that the Supreme Court will agree that President Obama’s actions are within his Constitutional authority and these programs will be unfrozen. However, to truly address the broken nature of our immigration system, Congress must pass bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform that the Republican leadership continues to block.”

Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33):

“The Supreme Court’s decision to consider the case of United States v. Texas was an important step in the battle over immigration policy, and I am optimistic that after oral arguments are made on Monday, the Court will rule that President Obama’s executive actions on immigration are well-within his legal authority. I was proud to sign an amicus brief to the Court with many of my Democratic colleagues in support of the President’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Resident (DAPA) programs. With over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., the time for comprehensive immigration reform is now. Meanwhile, the Republican controlled Congress has repeatedly failed to put forth a comprehensive plan providing a pathway to citizenship. I believe the DACA and DAPA programs are a key step forward to keeping families together, and I look forward to the Court’s decision.”

Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03):

“President Obama’s executive actions to help millions of families caught in our broken immigration system have been stalled for too long,” Rep. Grijalva said. “The expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) would ensure our limited enforcement resources are focused on the people who actually pose a threat to the public, and leave aspiring Americans with deep ties to this nation of immigrants to stay with their families and continue to contribute to the only country they call home. It’s time for the Supreme Court to end the uncertainty that this lawsuit created, and allow DACA and DAPA to provide the necessary relief they were intended to.”

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47):

“I urge the Supreme Court to allow the President’s executive actions on immigration to move forward and have joined my colleagues in signing an amicus brief to the Court supporting the President’s actions.  Every further moment of delay hurts families and damages our economy.  The President's executive actions on immigration are not only in keeping with actions taken by previous Presidents, but a routine and judicious use of executive authority under the Constitution to address our broken immigration system that Congress has failed to act on.  I have confidence in our judicial system and that the Supreme Court will ultimately find that the President has acted well within his constitutional powers to address a critical issue facing our nation.  The President's actions are on the right side of history, the right side of the law, and the right side of the millions of Americans who are disappointed in Congress’s failure to enact comprehensive immigration reform.”

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32):

“Today is an important day for all Americans in our great nation of immigrants. Together, members of CAPAC have worked tirelessly with President Obama, encouraging him to act within existing law to offer relief from the fear of deportation for AAPI immigrant families. We fully affirm his actions to create DAPA and expand upon the successful DACA. With our Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate we stand today with millions of immigrant families. We are confident the Supreme Court will embrace their contributions and reject the hatemongers who seek to rip families apart.”

Congressman Charles Rangel (NY-13):

“Those who consider America their home and contribute to our economy should have the opportunity to live and work here without fear of deportation or separation from their loved ones. While we have much to do to repair our broken immigration system, the millions of people whose lives currently hang in the balance need a swift and fair ruling from the Supreme Court on DACA and DAPA.”

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40):

“President Obama’s executive actions to expand DACA and implement DAPA are not only legal, they are humane.  If these actions take effect, more qualified immigrants will be able to come out of the shadows and contribute to our nation.  More families will be able to live in peace, free from fears of being torn apart.  I am confident the Supreme Court will affirm that President Obama has every right to take these executive actions.”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46):

“As co-chair of the Immigration Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I strongly support the expanded DACA and DAPA, and I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will recognize the constitutional authority of President Obama’s executive actions on immigration and reject Texas state officials’ harmful politically motivated challenge. The President’s executive actions on immigration enforce sensible priorities and have concrete legal precedent on their side,” said Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA-46). “We are a nation of immigrants: uniting and keeping our families together is an integral American value. We should be protecting the stability of our hard-working immigrant families instead of tearing them apart. Comprehensive immigration reform is the moral imperative of our time and our hard-working immigrant families have waited long enough.”

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09):

“President Obama took legal and necessary executive action in November 2015 to reform our broken immigration system by expanding both the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Once implemented, DAPA and DACA will be able to bring millions of families and children who are part of our communities and live in constant fear of deportation out of the shadows. We know that immigrants strengthen our communities, our economy, and our country for all Americans.”

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12):

“In lieu of much-needed Congressional action, the President took steps at the executive level to address our broken immigration system and stem a crisis for undocumented immigrants -- measures that I believe the Supreme Court will find fall within his legal authority. This case carries great significance for the many immigrants forced to live in the shadows, in fear of deportation from the only country they’ve ever really known. Like the many immigrants and refugees before them that came here with dreams of working hard to build a better life for their families, these individuals are ready to make invaluable contributions to our society -- they only need a chance and the legal footing to do so.”

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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.