DOJ and 14 States Move in the Right Direction for Immigration Action

Yesterday, the Department of Justice took a critical step forward as it filed a request with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to allow the deferred action initiatives - expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) - to go forward during the appeal of a Texas judge's order that temporarily stopped the president's immigration action (Texas v. U.S.). The DOJ asked the court of appeals to make a decision on this request within 14 days (by March 26th).

This bold move was further strengthened as attorney generals representing 14 states and Washington, DC, including state of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, filed an amicus brief in support of the immigration action and the federal government's emergency request.

Rocio Saenz, the International Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following response:

"We commend President Obama and his administration for continuing to defend the immigration action in the face of opponents who are deluded by partisan politics and refuse to support families and greater economic opportunities for America.

"With 14 states and Washington, DC demonstrating the courage to stand with families and a stronger America, we are confident that the president's immigration action will prevail in the courts.

"We encourage families to continue preparing for the deferred action initiatives and not allow this temporary bump in the road stifle their hope and readiness. Make no mistake, the immigration action lives in the right side of history."