Immigrant Advocates In Arizona React To Judge Stalling Executive Action
A federal judge in Texas has stalled President Obama’s Executive Action on immigration. The ruling follows last month’s hearing on a lawsuit filed by more than 20 states to stop the President’s order. Some immigrant advocates in Arizona said they are hopeful the judge’s decision will quickly be appealed.
Rallies were held by immigrant rights groups across the country and in Tucson, a small group of activists gathered in front of a government building downtown. Eduardo Sainz is with Mi Familia Vota. He said there was already an event planned today before the judge’s decision, but it was for a different reason.
"Today we were going to celebrate the release of the new application for the extended DACA, that it was going to be released tomorrow," he said.
Now that is delayed. The President’s mandate includes expanding DACA, the program that protects young immigrants from deportation who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Sainz said he believes the ruling will be appealed soon. He said they will continue to help people prepare to apply.
Angelica Monzon could benefit from another part of Obama’s action that grants work permits to parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. But she said she has doubts about the protection it provides.
"You have to be realistic," she said in Spanish. "The president leaves, finishes his term and what’s going to happen to us? We need something with more reach."
Monzon said although some Republicans in Congress want reform, they may not want it to be part of Obama’s legacy. The president's action could benefit as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants.
Here is the the decision by the federal judge in Texas.
