This morning, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) joined fellow Congressional Hispanic Caucus members and House Democrats in speaking at a press conference regarding next Monday’s Supreme Court oral arguments in United States v. Texas.  The case concerns President Obama’s executive actions to expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and implement Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s statement is below. 

“I am very pleased to be here to join my colleagues in expressing strong support for DAPA and expanded DACA.  These are sensible programs which bring order to a broken immigration system, keep families together instead of ripping them apart, and protect U.S. citizen children, DREAMers, and mixed status families from the fear of an unknown future.

“As the Chair of the Congressional Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform, and as the representative of a district which has one of the largest immigrant populations, I know how important DACA and DAPA are to the immigrant communities, and what a major and positive impact they will have on the lives of immigrant parents and their families.

“I would like to just focus on the women and the children, because immigrant mothers of U.S. citizens will be able to nurture and raise their children without the fear of deportation, and U.S. citizen children will be at peace knowing that their mothers are safe and will not be separated from them. 

“Our country, as you have heard from the other speakers, will also be strengthened by DAPA because these parents will be able to come out of the shadows, and be free to work and contribute to our economy. 

“With expanded DACA, more DREAMers will be able to pursue their education, excel in their chosen field, and continue to make positive contributions to our country.

“I am confident the Supreme Court will affirm President Obama’s right to use his legal authority to bring qualified immigrants out of the shadows and to keep families together under DAPA and expanded DACA.”

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