Press Release: Supreme Court keeps the DACA Program Alive

For immediate release // excuse Cross-Posting                           

Contact: Jose Patiño, Aliento - jose@alientoaz.org 

Reyna Montoya, Aliento - reyna@alientoaz.org 

Supreme Court keeps the DACA Program Alive

The Trump Administration did not follow the Administration Procedures Act to terminate the the DACA Program 

Dreamers, allies, activists and faith leaders call on Sen. Sinema & Sen. McSally to provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers

Press Conference 

WHAT: Dreamers, community leaders, allies and attorneys will gather today outside of the ICE field office after the Supreme Court decided to side with the Trump administration to end the popular DACA program for a press conference urging Congress to provide a pathway for citizenship prior to ICE starting to deport Dreamers.  

WHEN: June 18th, 2020

TIME:  9:30 to 10:00AM Press Conference. 

10:00 to 10:30AM press conference  followed by Q&A. 

WHERE: ICE facilities in downtown Phoenix; 2035 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

WHO:  Aliento, undocumented students, Dreamers, educators, faith leaders and allies. There will be visuals, posters and Dreamers who are willing to do interviews followed by the press conference. 

Phoenix, AZ - This morning, the United States’ Supreme Court announced their decision on the DACA case. By a margin of 5-4 the Supreme Court decided that President Trump did not follow the Administration Procedures Act, thereby keeping the DACA program alive. DHS does have the power to end the DACA program, however, it must do so in a legal manner. No new DACA applications will be accepted. It has been almost three years since the Trump administration decided to end the DACA program back in September 5, 2017 with no legislative solution in mind. 

Reyna Montoya, founder and CEO of Aliento and DACA recipient states, “Dreamers are the embodiment of the immigrant spirit. Today the Supreme Court gave Dreamers breathing space. Now more than ever Congress, specifically the Senate needs to pass a bi-partisan legislation to ensure Dreamers have a pathway to citizenship. We will continue to shine light amidst darkness and show this country that we will fight to stay home. We will continue to fight until we are free, because that is the American spirit, after all.” 

Blanca, a DACA recipient social worker at an Arizona hospital states, “I am a mother of two U.S. citizens, I work as a social worker in an Arizona hospital, and a homeowner. With DACA, I was able to go back to school to earn my bachelors and masters in social work to help vulnerable families navigate the healthcare system. With DACA, I was able to buy a home where my parents and my children live. I am happy that the Supreme Court decided that the administration did not follow legal procedure when terminating the DACA program. Without DACA, I will lose the ability to work in the field I have worked so hard for. I will lose my job, my ability to provide for my children. I will fear that the government (ICE) will tear me away from my children. In the meantime, I will continue to wake up in the morning, hug my children a little tighter, and show up to work at the hospital.” 

###

Aliento is an undocumented and Dreamer-led nonprofit and leadership organization.  We are directly impacted people and allies who are invested in the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status. We transform trauma into hope + action through the arts, leadership development, and advocacy.   

Tags: DACA, DREAMERS, AlientoAZ, Immigration, Aliento, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Senate