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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Shansky,(414) 218-3331

TODAY, 12PM: Milwaukee Faith Leaders Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Executive Actions on Immigration

Who: New Sanctuary Movement Milwaukee, Voces de la Frontera

What: Prayer Vigil in support of DAPA at ICE

When: Thursday, February 4th at 12pm

Where: Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, 310 E Knapp Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53202

WASHINGTON

Who: New Sanctuary Movement Milwaukee, Voces de la Frontera

What: Prayer Vigil in support of DAPA at ICE

When: Thursday, February 4th at 12pm

Where: Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, 310 E Knapp Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53202

Why:

The New Sanctuary Movement of Milwaukee will be holding a vigil in front of Milwaukee's ICE office tomorrow, February 4, to call on the Supreme Court to uphold immigration protections announced by President Obama in November 2014.

The programs, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) once fully implemented could provide a driver license, work permit, and protection from deportation to more than 5 million immigrant parents and young people, including 34,000 in Wisconsin. Sanctuary is organizing the vigil in solidarity with the Fair Immigration Reform Movement's call for nationwide action calling on the Supreme Court'sto uphold DAPA and expanded DACA.

Speakers at tomorrow's Vigil will include Rabbi David Cohen from Congregation Sinai; Vicar Brian Hornbecker from Ascension Lutheran Church; Rachel Buff, Professor of History and Ethnic Studies at UWM; Claudia Evangelista, Mount Mary student and DACA recipient; and Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera. The New Sanctuary Movement of Milwaukee applauds the Supreme Court for taking the case and continues to urge President Obama to stop raids that are terrorizing immigrant communities.

"In a time when many of our nation's leaders encourage us to think of immigrants as outsiders, and when many of our fellow citizens seem ready to follow their lead, a heavy burden is indeed placed on immigrants," said Vicar Hornbecker of Ascension Lutheran Church. "But, we can and do still hold out hope. We welcome these strangers as neighbors and friends because God's promises call us to look forward to a time when the limitations that we face today are lifted, when we move out of darkness and into light, and when we all truly treat one another as brothers and sisters in God's family."

Voces de la Frontera is Wisconsin's leading immigrant rights group - a grassroots organization that believes power comes from below and that people can overcome injustice to build a better world.