Hirono: Court’s Deadlock Denies Hope & Opportunity To Millions
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the Supreme Court released a deadlocked ruling on U.S. v. Texas, which halts President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. After the ruling was released, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement:
"In 2014, President Obama gave hope to millions of workers and families by expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has helped over 700,000 people come out of the shadows since its creation in 2012, and establishing the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program. Last year, a federal court challenge led by Texas halted these programs and today the lives of up to five million people remain on hold as the Supreme Court deadlocked and was unable to resolve the situation.
"Deadlock at the Court, and deadlock in Congress, are denying hope and opportunity to millions of people. This is not how our government is supposed to work. I will continue speaking out and fighting as hard as I can to give those people in the shadows hope, and to see that the Supreme Court be returned to full strength, and that Congress finally pass real, comprehensive immigration reform legislation.”
As the only immigrant currently serving in the U.S. Senate, Senator Hirono has been a leading advocate for fixing our broken immigration system. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 113th Congress she was one of the authors of the Senate’s 2013 comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
