FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
September 6, 2014 Julian Teixeira
(202) 776-1812
jteixeira@nclr.org
WASHINGTON—Today, President Obama announced that administrative action on immigration will be delayed until after the November elections. In news reports, White House officials cited Democrats’ concerns about the impact of executive action on the party’s electoral prospects as the reason for the delay.
“When candidate Obama asked our community for support in 2008 and 2012, he urged us all to vote based on our hopes, not our fears. Today, President Obama gave in to the fears of Democratic political operatives, crushing the hopes of millions of hard-working people living under the constant threat of deportation and family separation,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
“Tens of thousands of human beings are likely to be separated from their families between now and the election. These families have embraced and contributed to this country. All they ask is for a chance to get right with the law, step out of the shadows and further contribute to a nation where most of them have lived for more than a decade. Their suffering, and that of their family members, who include U.S.-citizen children and spouses, should weigh on the consciences of each and every person responsible for this delay,” Murguía continued.
“President Obama, Senate Democrats and House Republicans have all succumbed to their political fears, avoiding what they all privately acknowledge is the right thing to do, not just for the Hispanic community, but for the country they are sworn to serve. They might rest easier tonight knowing they’ve avoided another inconvenient political problem, but I guarantee that the dreams they have shattered today will haunt them far into the future,” Murguía concluded.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
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