Richmond, VA - Today the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program with a 5-to-4 vote. The court’s opinion said that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to rescind DACA was “arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.”
New Virginia Majority applauds the decision of the Supreme Court to make nearly 800,000 “DREAMers” safe from deportation, allow them to legally work, and apply for college loans and financial aid.
In 2017, when the lawsuit was first filed, DREAMERS like Jennifer, who came to America when she was ten years old, didn’t know what the future would hold. Today, that future is a little brighter. She said, “I received so much support from my teachers along the way who believed in me and inspired me to thrive even through difficult and uncertain times...no matter what, I know Virginia is my home and I am here to stay.”
Almost 25,000 Virginians have DACA status, and many of them are our neighbors. This protection has allowed them to create businesses, join the workforce, and provide for their families in cities across the Commonwealth.
However, the Supreme Court’s decision is not a permanent one, as the administration can still rescind DACA. We need to work towards legislation that is inclusive for all Virginians, not just a few.
We will continue to stand with the immigrant community, along with communities of color and working-class Virginians to live free from fear and with dignity, and will continue to work towards creating permanent protections for all immigrants.
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New Virginia Majority builds power in working-class communities of color, in immigrant communities, among LGBTQ people, women, youth, and progressives across the Commonwealth. We organize for racial and economic justice through large-scale political education, mobilization and advocacy around dozens of issues. We fight for a Virginia that is just, democratic, and environmentally sustainable. For more information, visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @NewVAMajority.