Washington, D.C. – Following last week’s ruling from Judge Hanen in Texas to partially end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, DACA recipients, DACA-eligible young people and immigrant justice leaders met with Vice President Harris at the White House today to uplift the urgent need for the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress to deliver citizenship for millions this year. Susie Lujano, a United We Dream Action member and DACA recipient, attended the meeting alongside United We Dream Action’s Executive Director Greisa Martinez Rosas.
Greisa Martinez Rosas, Executive Director of United We Dream Action, said:
“In today’s meeting with Vice President Harris we reminded her of the urgency of this moment, and what is at stake for millions of undocumented people. Last week’s court ruling on DACA was gut wrenching for millions of families, and tens of thousands of immigrant youth who were waiting to receive a DACA approval that may never come. This is all happening while there’s massive increases in detentions, deportations and expulsions.
After months of pressure from our people-powered movement, Democrats have included a pathway to citizenship in their budget reconciliation. We made clear the critical role Vice President Harris will play in ensuring that Democrats keep their word and deliver on citizenship this year by casting a historic tie-breaking vote. The reality is that the only way to protect immigrant youth, TPS recipients, farm workers and other essential workers is by passing a pathway to citizenship through reconciliation this year. ”
Susie Lujano, DACA recipient and member of United We Dream Action, said:
“After hearing that Judge Hanen sided with Republicans’ cruel and malicious attacks against DACA, my heart sank. I remember the relief I felt after getting DACA in 2012 and knowing that, for the time being, my life wasn’t in immediate danger. Following last week’s ruling, my heart is with the tens of thousands of young people who were eligible for the program and the millions more, like my parents, who never qualified for DACA in the first place, and continue to live their lives with the fear that they could be deported at any moment.
I met with Vice President Harris with my undocumented community in mind to share that DACA has never been enough. Judge Hanen’s vindictive attack to partially end the program is further proof that the only thing that can protect immigrant youth, my parents, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers from deportation is a pathway to citizenship through reconciliation. Madame Vice President, President Biden, and Democrats in Congress, our communities are counting on you to get this done this year. No excuses.”