IMMIGRATION: Sen. Murray Statement on Today’s Supreme Court Oral Arguments on DAPA and DACA+

President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, now before the Supreme Court, would affect nearly 79,000 people in WA

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement regarding the United States Supreme Court hearing oral arguments on the case United States v. Texas. At stake is whether the Court will uphold the President’s executive actions on immigration announced in November 2014, which could have an immediate impact on more than four million undocumented immigrants and their families. This affects the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.

“In a country that prides itself on inclusiveness and diversity, it is disappointing that opponents are suggesting that it’s better policy to tear hardworking families apart because of their immigration status,” said Senator Murray. “I am hopeful that the Court allows these programs to move forward, and recognizes that with limited resources, we should be focused on making sure our law enforcement is going after actual threats, not the families who are simply looking for a better life. Undocumented immigrants should be treated with respect and compassion and the President’s executive actions in 2014 were a good step in that direction. And while I am hopeful that these executive actions stand, this is one more example of the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform.”

In March, Senator Murray joined 224 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the Obama administration’s executive actions in the United States v. Texas case. In June 2015, Senator Murray called for comprehensive immigration reform on the Senate floor, and in November 2014 Senator Murray spoke on the Senate floor in support of the President’s administrative action to improve the immigration system after the House of Representatives refused to act on bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate.