WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a rehearing petition in the United States v. Texas immigration case around Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA, and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA+.
Advocacy groups have been quick to criticize the decision. Tom Jawetz, vice president of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement: ” The Center for American Progress is deeply disappointed that on the first day of its 2016-2017 term, a short-handed Supreme Court declined to rehear United States v. Texas, one of the most important cases in recent history. This decision is devastating and an important reminder of how crucial a well-functioning, full Supreme Court bench is to the lives of every American. In this case, more than 6.1 million U.S. citizens in states across the nation live with a DAPA-eligible family member who will remain in fear of deportation without the implementation of DAPA.”
César J. Blanco, interim director for Latino Victory Fund said, “Today the Supreme Court once again let politics stand in the way of justice. The Supreme Court’s decision to deny the rehearing of U.S. v. Texas in front of a fully staffed court is inexcusable. This should be a no-brainer, the appropriate course of action is for the full bench – a court of 9 justices – to reconsider this case; there is simply too much at stake for our country and for millions of immigrants and mixed status families, to allow a non-decision by a split 8 person court stand.
“This could’ve all been avoided if the Senate did their job. As we speak, Republicans in the Senate refuse to give President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrik Garland, a fair hearing and confirmation because they’d rather play politics with the court than fulfill their Constitutional duty and replace the late Justice Scalia. That’s why we’re calling on the Senate to stop fooling around and take action now to restore the full court and allow them to do their work.”
