March 17, 2016 House Vote Against Immigrants is a Cruel Waste of Time

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March 17, 2016

HOUSE VOTE AGAINST IMMIGRANTS IS A CRUEL WASTE OF TIME

Rather than oppose President’s immigration actions, House should pass its own immigration reform bill

Washington, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, strongly opposes consideration of H.Res. 639, which would authorize the Speaker of the House to file an amicus brief opposing President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. The brief would be filed in the United States v. Texas case which will be argued before the Supreme Court on April 18. At question is whether the government can proceed with implementing the President’s immigration policies that would expand eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and establish Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). These policies would provide affirmative relief from deportation to nearly five million undocumented immigrants who are rooted in, and contributing to, American society.

“Like his predecessor, the current Speaker has refused to consider immigration reform legislation despite widespread bipartisan support for it. It was exactly such a refusal to act that led President Obama to take executive actions in November 2014 to address our nation’s broken immigration system. The true intention of the House leadership is clear: they do not want to act and they do not want the president to act. Their preference is the perpetuation of a broken immigration system that tears apart families, keeps people in the shadows, exploits workers, undercuts law-abiding businesses, and deprives our economy of the skilled labor it needs to thrive. Rather than waste time on a resolution to weigh in with the Supreme Court on a pending case, the Speaker should bring immigration reform legislation to the floor of the House for debate and a vote,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

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