CAPAC Welcomes Obama Administration’s Deferred Action Policy for Childhood Arrivals

Washington, DC – Today, the Obama Administration will begin accepting deferred action applications from undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria, removing them from the threat of deportation.  Leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements in response to this announcement:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), CAPAC Chair:  “The Obama Administration’s new policy for childhood arrivals will provide a brighter future for students who came to our country at a young age and have been penalized for no fault of their own. These students were brought up as Americans, in American schools, and will now have the opportunity to give back to the country that they call home.

“As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am also encouraged by what the Administration’s new policy will mean for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who account for one out of every ten DREAM-eligible students. I commend President Obama for his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to move beyond these short term administrative fixes and pursue meaningful solutions for our broken immigration system.”

Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Immigration Taskforce Chair:  “Today marks an emotional and well-deserved day for hardworking, bright, and perseverant undocumented youth.  In my home state of California, over 412,000 undocumented youth will benefit from this policy, including over 35,900 Asian and Pacific Islanders.  While the deferred action policy falls short of providing a roadmap to legal residency or citizenship like the more comprehensive and bipartisan Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, we will still witness the productive contributions of these young immigrants.  Deferred action beneficiaries will use their work authorization and college degrees, determination, and innovation to make our economy and country stronger.  My colleagues and I in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) will continue to work with President Obama to ensure successful implementation of the deferred action program.  Most importantly, we will use the President’s landmark decision to protect these childhood arrivals as a stepping stone in the fight for broader comprehensive and humane immigration reform.”

On June 15th, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that undocumented students who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be considered for administrative relief from the threat of deportation.

Forms for deferred action from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can be found here.
 

###
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.