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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
Announcement will bring relief to millions of American Families
NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today hailed President Barack Obama for showing courageous leadership on a challenge that has lingered for far too long. Tonight the president made the long-awaited decision to provide relief from deportation to up to five million people, including the parents of children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. The action will prioritize enforcement resources for pursuing those who pose the greatest threat and harm to our country, as well as recent border crossers. The president made the announcement in a speech to the American people tonight from the White House.
“This action is a victory for the president, a victory for millions of American families and workers, a victory for our country, and a victory for common sense. The president has exercised the leadership we needed him to, acting in the country’s best interest and opening a path for Republicans in Congress to legislate on the issue,” said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía. “Executive action will improve our security by getting people living in the shadows to come forward and go through criminal background checks. It will bolster our economy so those who are working will do so legally in a way that increases tax contributions for the nation and prevents bad employers from pitting them against U.S.-citizen workers. And it will bring greater stability to millions of families—which include U.S. citizens and legal residents—as well as the communities in which they live.
“To those who say they will fight this action tooth and nail, let me be clear: You are not picking a fight with the president,” Murguía continued. “You are picking a fight with the millions of American families who will find some relief—even if temporary—while extremists in Congress squandered the best opportunity our country has had in decades to resolve this issue. We also note that this is just the beginning. This action is not a path to a green card or to citizenship, and it does not cover millions of worthy immigrants contributing to our country every day, to whom we vow to continue working for reform legislation in Congress. But it will benefit the nation, and needs to serve as a wake-up call for House Republican leadership to finish the job, and deliver the reforms the vast majority of Americans support, which include a path to citizenship for aspiring Americans.”
For resources, facts on the case for executive action and updates on how to apply for administrative relief, please visit NCLR’s administrative relief site: http://nclr.us/adminrelief.
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