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image by Santiago G.
Following the undocuppation of OFA offices around the country, President Obama made an announcement saying that his administration will stop deporting undocumented youth who are between the ages of 16 and 30 and meet certain requirements. This is not the executive order we are asking for. Many are celebrating this announcement, calling it a temporary Dream Act. For others of us DREAMers, we’re calling it as we see it. It is only an announcement, one very similar to the past prosecutorial discretion announcement made last August and the Morton memo before that. These announcements have failed and less than 1% of those who can benefit from them have. We are not only skeptical, but plan to keep the president accountable. Actions speak louder than words.
image by our umbrella organization, the National Immigrant Youth Alliance
Check out what our team members think about yesterday’s announcement!
We’re not going to believe the president until we see it happen.. We’ve been down this road before. -Jose Rico (taken from the N&O)
Although it is good news, when read in its entirety, you find that it is full of obstacles which leads me to fear that very few Dream Act – eligible youth would benefit from it. This is not the immediate relief that DREAMers currently in deportation proceedings need in order to stay in the only home that they know. – Alicia Torres
While I see progress, this announcement still leaves much doubt. This is only an extension of prosecutorial discretion which has proven to be a failure for our undocumented community. It only gives space to local ICE officials to continue on their rogue behavior. I, as a documented ally, believe we should be critical and continue to hold the president accountable. – Elisa Benitez
image by V. Martinez
On Monday, June 4th, our umbrella organization, the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, released the following statement in a press release:
“The National Immigrant Youth Alliance is calling for the President to issue an executive order to stop the deportation of DREAM Act-eligible youth. We simply cannot continue to allow our lives to be held up by petty partisanship and congressional gridlock.
We need the strength of an executive order to stop our deportations. Prosecutorial discretion has not stopped them; NIYA has continued to fight tooth and nail for many young people who meet the criteria to have their cases administratively closed under the June 17 Morton Memo. At present, NIYA is fighting over 30 active cases that meet these criteria..”
“..We hope that our call for an executive order has not fallen on deaf ears in the White House. If the Administration does not issue an executive order, we will be forced to respond with direct action in the coming days. The administration, by not taking action by means fully within its power, keeps our lives on hold. That position, for us, is no longer acceptable.”
image by J. Valas
As of today, the president has yet to file such executive order. We will not be ignored.
Sample Tweet: Sign the petition! http://action.dreamactivist.org/execorder. Tell Barack Obama to file an executive order to stop the deportation of DREAM Act youth!
image by Justin Valas
Watch LIVE now! And tell President Obama that it’s time he use his executive authority to halt the deportations of Dream Act – eligible youth!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 4, 2012
media@theniya.org
704.281.9911
NIYA Demands Executive Order to Stop Deportations of DREAM Act-eligible Youth
Prosecutorial discretion has failed—deportations of DREAMers continue
DENVER—The National Immigrant Youth Alliance is calling for the President to issue an executive order to stop the deportation of DREAM Act-eligible youth. We simply cannot continue to allow our lives to be held up by petty partisanship and congressional gridlock.
We need the strength of an executive order to stop our deportations. Prosecutorial discretion has not stopped them; NIYA has continued to fight tooth and nail for many young people who meet the criteria to have their cases administratively closed under the June 17 Morton Memo. At present, NIYA is fighting over 30 active cases that meet these criteria.
Many cases move forward into removal proceedings simply because ICE field offices disregard prosecutorial discretion. ICE agents are not under any obligation from their superiors to do otherwise. Even in Denver, Colorado, where the field office is participating in a pilot program for prosecutorial discretion, ICE agents denied Hugo Zarate’s request for deferred action, even though he is DREAM Act-eligible and suffers from rheumatic fever.
We have lost hope for immigration reform during the current period of congressional gridlock. As well, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has continued to expand programs like Secure Communities and 287(g) and deportation levels remain at record levels.
We hope that our call for an executive order has not fallen on deaf ears in the White House. If the Administration does not issue an executive order, we will be forced to respond with direct action in the coming days. The administration, by not taking action by means fully within its power, keeps our lives on hold. That position, for us, is no longer acceptable.
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The National Immigrant Youth Alliance is an undocumented youth-led network committed to achieving equality for all undocumented youth. We have member organizations in Alabama, California, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington and have relationships with activists throughout the entire country. We are the only independent national organization of undocumented youth. Through advocacy, grassroots organizing, direct action and civil disobedience, we will develop a sustainable movement for justice and equality led by those most affected and supported by committed, conscientious allies.
