We Are Home Campaign Responds to Judge Hanen Ruling on DACA

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2021

We Are Home Campaign Responds to Judge Hanen Ruling on DACA

Ruling is a blaring siren for Congress to act NOW and provide pathways to citizenship through reconciliation.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Texas federal Judge Anthony Hanen issued a decision to partially end DACA and block new DACA applications. The following is a statement from the We Are Home Coalition leadership:

Greisa Martinez Rosas, Executive Director of United We Dream, said:

“Since Trump first tried to end DACA in 2017, DACA recipients and DACA-eligible youth have lived court case to court case, at the whims of politicians who have been hellbent on detaining and deporting our communities. Judge Hanen’s decision to side with Republicans who have continuously targeted our communities is a continuation of the attacks that defined the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant, white nationalist agenda and put the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrant young people on the line.

Today’s ruling is evidence that DACA is not enough. The program has always been temporary, leaving hundreds of thousands of lives vulnerable to the next attack. Just this week, Senate Democrats included a pathway to citizenship for millions in their proposed budget resolution, which was a direct result of our movement’s power. Democrats must act now to make citizenship a reality!

The only thing that can protect all immigrant youth, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers, is a path to citizenship through reconciliation. Until President Biden and Democrats in Congress deliver on citizenship, the lives of millions of undocumented people remain on the line. Democrats must pass a pathway to citizenship this year, no excuses!”

Bridgette Gomez, Campaign Director for the We Are Home campaign said:

“Today’s ruling must light a fire under Congressional Democrats to use every ounce of power that they have to create pathways to citizenship for millions of people, including DACA recipients and those eligible for DACA.

Young undocumented immigrants have had to endure years of attacks on a program that has allowed them to work legally and live free from the fear of deportation. This decision throws their lives into more uncertainty. While our lawyers are still studying the decision, it does not immediately cut off those currently with DACA, but it does cut off new applicants. The net effect: DACA is hanging by a thread.

Democrats have to step up to the urgency of the moment. Republicans have made it clear that they are incapable of negotiating in good faith. The only solution is legislative action through a Democrats-only vehicle. This week, Democrats included immigrant youth, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers in the Build Back Better package expected to pass through reconciliation. This decision underscores the urgency of acting now.The We Are Home campaign remains committed to pressing Congress to pass citizenship legislation immediately. DACA is not enough. We need to include TPS holders, farm workers and essential workers. It’s what America needs and what Americans support.

The future of millions of immigrant families hangs in the balance. Failure is not an option.”

We Are Home is a nationwide campaign to fight for immigrant communities on three fronts: prioritizing and demanding a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; a moratorium and overhaul of interior enforcement; and broad affirmative relief from deportation. We Are Home is co-chaired by Community Change/Community Change Action; National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)/Care in Action; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); United Farm Workers/UFW Foundation; and United We Dream.

###