Faith Leaders Outraged by Supreme Court’s Split on DAPA/DACA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2016
Contact: Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, 202-735-7123
Sara Benitez, sbenitez@faithinpubliclife.org, 202-499-4084
Faith Leaders Outraged by Supreme Court’s Split on DAPA/DACA
Washington, D.C. — Clergy and religious leaders throughout the nation are outraged and disappointed by the Supreme Court’s 4-4 split decision on DAPA/DACA. The court’s deadlock leaves in place a lower court’s decision to block the president’s executive action on immigration.
The high court’s failure to uphold the expansion of the already-existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the creation of the new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) will impact the lives of 5.5 million U.S. born children under the age of 18 who have DAPA eligible parents.
Faith leaders are urging our nation’s Congress, and the presumptive presidential nominees of both political parties, to commit to keeping families together by passing comprehensive immigration reform.
Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life, Washington, DC
Today’s Supreme Court decision is a dangerous step in the wrong direction. As believers, we are called to love our immigrant brothers and sisters as we love ourselves. Though we are disappointed, we are not discouraged. As a community of faith, we have a moral responsibility to honor all humanity, especially those whom society tries to exclude. Families should not live in fear. People of faith will take this righteous indignation to the voting booth this Fall.
Sister Bernadine Karge OP, Attorney at law, Chicago, IL
As a Catholic sister and lawyer, I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision not to uphold President Obama’s executive action to preserve family unity, putting millions of families at risk of being ripped apart. The stories of immigrant families are intimately woven into the tapestry of this great country, and today’s decision threatens our nation’s commitment to justice and compassion. I pray that the presumptive presidential nominees as well as Congress will make comprehensive immigration reform a priority.
Rev. Dr. Ray Rivera, Board Chair of National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Sanctuary Church, Senior Pastor
I am deeply saddened by the Supreme Court’s decision to put partisan politics over justice, compassion and for families. Though today’s ruling set is an obvious setback, it is also a setup for our future president and Congress to work across the aisle to pass the comprehensive immigration reform that our country so sorely needs.
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