Senators Carper, Coons Sign Amicus Brief Supporting President Obama’s Executive Actions on Immigration

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined 223 Members of Congress this week in filing an Amicus Brief before the U.S. Supreme Court which states that President Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions are authorized by existing laws passed by the Congress of the United States. 

The filed Amicus Brief supports the legality of President Obama’s expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs. DACA offers a 2-year deportation reprieve and potential work authorization to certain young adults who were brought to the United States as children and have since attended U.S. schools or honorably served the nation through military service. President Obama’s executive action would expand DACA to a larger group of young immigrants and allow for a three-year reprieve, while DAPA would grant a three-year reprieve from deportation and potential work authorization to the parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents who have a clean record.

“There are more than 11 million people living in this country without documentation, and many of these individuals are American in every way, except on paper – especially those brought here as young children,” said Senator Carper, top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has helped young people who worked hard, attended our schools, and in some cases, honorably served our nation in the military. To many of these young people, America is the only home they really know. The Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program would allow thousands of law-abiding, productive families who have been living in our communities for years to stay together while continuing to work legally and pay full taxes. Both of these policies are beneficial to our federal budget and our economy. These policies also work to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security can focus its time, attention, and limited resources on addressing genuine threats to the safety and security of our country. It’s vitally important that these programs be allowed to take effect, and that we continue to work on fixing our broken immigration system.”

“We should be focused on fixing our immigration system, not punishing families and kids who are the product of this broken system,” said Senator Coons. “Many of the children and families who are here without papers have worked hard and contribute to our country in countless positive ways.  For many, America is the only home they know. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs will ensure law-abiding, hardworking individuals can keep their families together and continue to contribute to their communities. I urge the Supreme Court to uphold and authorize these policies.”