OCA Applauds SCOTUS for Protecting 700K DACA Recipients

Washington, DC - OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates commends the Supreme Court’s decision today to block the Trump Administration’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, protecting 700,000 young immigrants in the process. Upholding the DACA program will ensure that these valuable contributors, including over 100,000 essential workers, will be able to continue living and working in their communities.

The DACA program is overwhelmingly popular across party lines, and it is easy to see why. DACA recipients are the parents of over 250,000 US-born children, contribute $8.7 billion in taxes and represent $24 billion in spending power. Additionally DACA recipients include 43,500 healthcare workers, who will now be allowed to keep their livelihoods and remain with their communities.

“On behalf of the 120,000 DACA-eligible Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we are heartened by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the will of the people and protect young immigrants.” said OCA Executive Director Rita Pin Ahrens. “While the Supreme Court decision does not protect DACA forever, it does provide a reprieve for all of the communities waiting with bated breath. To them, we say: we will keep fighting for you, for DACA, and for the human rights of all immigrants.”

OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national civil rights organization dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

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