Address
811 N. Catalina Ave. Suite 2006 Redondo Beach, CA 90250
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 9 am - 5 pm and by appointment. We work remotely on Fridays.
It’s DACA’s 7th birthday! On June 15, 2012, President Obama and the U.S. government passed DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of undocumented students and young adults for the better. Please see the latest update on DACA, both in the courts and the legislature, and what’s ahead for advocating for our Dreamers. Peace, Heidi
DACA in the House and Senate: The House passed H.R. 6: The Dream and Promise Act last week. Although it is not anticipated to pass in the Senate and will certainly be vetoed by President Trump if it does, this shows what can happen with a different ethos of elected officials. It matters who we elect. It matters a lot. Please vote for candidates who care about immigrants. If we are going to see just and merciful policies for our immigrant brothers and sisters, we have to vote in elected officials who promote bill exactly like these. Read more about the House bill HERE. And call your Representative and thank him/her for giving us hope. Find your representative to thank HERE.
DACA in the courts: Right now, DACA is currently hanging by a thread. A second appeals court ruled against the termination of the DACA in May of this year, calling the Trump administration’s actions “arbitrary and capricious.” The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia found took issue not with the president’s action to terminate DACA but rather how they went about terminating it. This is in line with a prior ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled the termination “was not adequately explained”. The Supreme Court is currently waiting to hear several cases to review DACA. Read about the ruling HERE.
What is DACA? DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It is an immigration option for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before the age of 16. It was issued by Executive Order on June 15, 2012 by then-President Barack Obama. Although DACA does not provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence, it does provide temporary protection from deportation, work authorization, and the ability to apply for a social security number. It has made an enormous difference in the lives of immigrant youth in the United States. Read more about DACA HERE.
What does the PC(USA) have to say about DACA? The PC(USA) is a strong advocate for DACA. In 2012, the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a resolution calling for comprehensive immigration reform for immigrants living and working in the United States. The resolution imagines a system of immigration that makes family unity a priority, provides a reasonable and inclusive path for undocumented migrants to eventually gain citizenship, utilizes humane enforcement procedures that reduce migrant deaths and civil rights abuses, and establishes safe, legal, realistic paths for future migration. While DACA is not comprehensive immigration reform, it is an essential piece of it and upholds our values for immigration reform as Presbyterians. Do not be shy to say this to your congregation: Presbyterians have a long and rich history of advocating for just immigration policy. More information regarding the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Policy on Immigration can be found HERE.