The Supreme Court of the United States cast a 4-4 vote in a contentious and controversial ruling, placing a hold on President Obama’s Executive Order on immigration. The split vote leaves in place a single Texas federal judge’s decision to block the Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The Supreme Court’s decision to leave millions of families in limbo, and jeopardize the cohesion and diversity of the communities on which our businesses depend is more than disappointing. DAPA would defer deportations of undocumented immigrants that have lived in the country since 2010 and have children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, while DACA exempts children from deportation who entered the country before 2007.
“Though not precedential, the court’s failure to recognize the clearly legal and constitutional nature of these executive actions will starve Main Street of the diversity and inclusion on which it thrives,” the Main Street Alliance said.
In 2014, over 1,000 small business owners working with the Main Street Alliance signed an open letter to President Obama asking for executive action to stop deportations and keep thriving, local communities intact.
“We were heartened in 2015 when the President finally took action to protect many immigrant families. His executive orders on DACA and DAPA represented progress amidst a gridlocked Congress. Today’s ruling will intensify pressure on already vulnerable hard-working people in our communities,” says Amanda Ballantyne, National Director of the Main Street Alliance. “We need sound, responsible and fair immigration policy that creates a pathway to reunite families and promotes diverse and vibrant communities.”
“As a small business owner, I see the positive impact immigrants have on our economy and community every day,” says Jose Gonzalez, President of Tu Casa Real Estate in Salem and member of the Main Street Alliance of Oregon. “Many of my clients are immigrants to our country, and it pains me that the Supreme Court has failed to recognize that President Obama’s Executive Order to provide relief to millions of families was well within the law. We know that this work is not over, and we’ll continue to strive to keep families together and communities thriving.”
