Causa Oregon Responds to President Obama's Speech on Administrative Relief for Immigrant Families

President Obama to Provide Relief to Millions of Families

Causa Oregon Responds to President Obama's Speech on Administrative Relief for Immigrant Families

Salem, Ore. -- Today, faced with Congressional inaction on immigration reform, President Obama said his administration will provide relief to millions of immigrant families. The following statement was issued by Andrea Miller, Executive Director of Causa Oregon in response to the President's speech.

"Causa and our partner organizations have worked for years to achieve immigration reform so that families that live, work, and raise children in Oregon can stay together. We’ve marched, we’ve told our stories, and met with our elected leaders. And finally, through President Obama’s announcement tonight, we’re seeing some relief for our families. Causa applauds the President in taking a step towards dealing with our broken immigration system."

"President Obama’s announcement means that millions of people’s lives will be changed for the better. The President’s action will help people who have deep ties in our communities with children or spouses who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, but who live in constant fear of being separated from their family by deportation."

"Under our broken immigration system, there is no line to get into, and no way to remedy this situation. Fortunately, the President’s action will give families a line to get into, a process to sign up for, and a way to come forward and contribute even more to this country they call home.  Soon, millions of our family members, friends, and loved ones will finally start living their lives knowing they can stay together in this country without fear of being separated."

"But we also know that millions of other people, more than half the undocumented population, have been left out of this process, including the parents of Dreamers—or undocumented students, and workers without children. We also know that President Obama’s administrative relief is temporary and limited in scope. There is no legalization process, -- only a relief from deportation and work authorization." 

"That’s why we will continue fighting for Congress to finally act and pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship for the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants living and contributing to this country. Congress can – and must – finish the job by overhauling and rewriting immigration law."

As more information about President Obama’s announcement rolls out, we will continue to be in touch with our communities. It’s important to note that the U.S. Government will not start accepting applications until early 2015. Please stay tuned by visiting our website at www.causaoregon.org and  www.adminrelief.org and www.USCIS.gov.

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Causa is Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information about Causa, please visit www.causaoregon.org