Texas Circuit Court Judge Rules Against Immigrant Families

February 17, 2015
 

Texas Circuit Court Judge Rules Against Immigrant Families

Causa Confident U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Will Reject Politically-Motivated Lawsuit by Anti-Immigrant Politicians

Undeterred by the political attacks, Oregon immigrants continue to prepare for new immigration programs and will fight on for a path to citizenship

Salem, Ore. -- Late last night, a G.W. Bush-appointed district court judge in Brownsville, Texas, issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks the implementation process of the new immigrant deferred action programs. The ruling possibly pushes back the start date for millions of immigrants workers to come forward, register, and apply for work permits, which is planned to begin as soon as February 18, 2015 for DREAMers.

“Immigrants in Oregon are moving forward regardless of last night’s ruling, and will continue getting ready for the deferred action programs that will give thousands of Oregonians the chance to live, work, and stay in America with their families.” said Andrea Miller, Executive Director of Causa Oregon.

“We’ve always said that this lawsuit is just a political stunt by out of touch anti-immigrant Attorneys General and governors and is meant to scare away eligible immigrants from applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA),” said Miller. “They seem to have forgotten that we fought hard for this victory, and we’re not going to let anyone take it away from us. We’re still fighting for a permanent solution that includes a path to citizenship for all 11 million.”

“This is just the first round in a long, drawn out legal process. Hundreds of legal scholars agree that the President's executive action on immigration are constitutional and within his authority. We are confident that the court system will eventually reject this meritless lawsuit that only wastes taxpayer dollars, disenfranchises immigrant workers and families, and robs much needed revenue from state economies.”

There are at least 124,000 undocumented immigrants living in Oregon, and approximately 64,000 immigrants would be eligible for one of the deferred action programs. Enabling these immigrants to register with the government, request a reprieve from removal, and apply for a temporary work permit that would increase Oregon's tax revenues and lead to a cascade of economic benefits across the state.

Miller added, “The outcome of this case affects tens of thousands of real Oregon families, and we applaud Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum for signing on to the amicus brief filed by 12 State Attorney Generals and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales for signing on to the amicus brief filed by city mayors from around the U.S. in support of President Obama's deferred action programs. 

Causa urges the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to take up this case immediately because millions of real people want to come forward to live and work in the only country they call home.

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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, visit www.causaoregon.org