Press Release: Congressman Filemon Vela's Statement on Supreme Court's Decision to Protect Dreamers

Statement

Today, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump Administration's attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Administration failed to offer a proper explanation for its decision to rescind DACA and thus violated administrative procedure. While the decision ensures DACA is not eliminated today and will allow DACA applications to continue, it does not permanently preserve the program nor allow a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Congressman Vela released the following statement:

"Today's news brings great relief to the hundreds of thousands of young Dreamers and their families living across Texas and the United States. This Supreme Court decision allows these young people to confidently continue to make positive contributions to our nation every day. The nightmare and stress the Trump administration has caused is over, for now. But the work continues, we must pass a permanent legislative solution for DACA recipients, and comprehensive immigration reform.

"Over a year ago, I joined 236 of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 6 The American Dream and Promise Act to shield Dreamers and TPS holders from deportation and create a pathway to permanent legal status. Unfortunately, our efforts have been stalled by the Republican-controlled Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, who refuse to bring our legislation for a vote in their chamber. Instead, they used immigrant youth as political pawns, patiently waiting a Supreme Court decision that would absolve them from any responsibility to take action.

"To their dismay, today's decision has placed that responsibility right back on Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump's shoulders. The Supreme Court's decision to protect DACA has given the American people confidence in our institutions. The message is clear, it does not matter if you are the President of the United States or the Senate majority leader, unconstitutional decisions will not stand.

"Make no mistake, although the Supreme Court's decision is a step in the right direction, work remains to ensure comprehensive immigration reform is finally passed in this country. For too long, our broken immigration system has ripped families apart and placed vulnerable asylum seekers in harm's way. We must not rest until we bring relief to every child separated from their family, every asylum seeker unfairly turned away without due process, and every individual affected by the Trump administration's inhumane Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

"Though our work is not finished, this is still a victory worth celebrating. Dreamers are here to stay. They have been educated in our schools, work as teachers, lawyers and thousands of essential health care workers during this global pandemic, they pay taxes, serve in our armed forces, and are American in every sense of the word. I remain committed to continue to fight alongside Dreamers until they are granted a pathway to citizenship, and I hope my Republican colleagues reconsider which side of history they wish to be on."

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