MCJ Applauds Supreme Court’s DACA Decision

For Immediate Release

June 18, 2020

Contact: Patrick Taylor, ptaylor@mscenterforjustice.org, 601-473-4309

 

MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT’S DACA RULING

PRESIDENT AND CEO Vangela M. Wade released the following statement:

 

We applaud the Supreme Court for blocking the Trump administration’s cruel, inhumane and arbitrary attempt to end the DACA program — a ruling that will shield hundreds of thousands of patriotic Americans from being deported. President Trump was wrong to target Dreamers in the first place, and MCJ hopes the administration will drop its misguided attempts to eliminate the program.

 

The Mississippi Center for Justice is fighting to protect the safety and civil rights of our state’s immigrants. We aim to ensure that they can live without fear of being abruptly separated from their relatives, friends and communities.

 

We began our immigration work in 2018, focusing on asylum and immigration appellate representation. Last summer, we were proud to coordinate representation for hundreds of the 680 immigrants arrested in the historic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that targeted seven poultry factories in several Central Mississippi counties, on August 7, 2019. Nine months following the ICE Raids, MCJ has fought for the release of individuals facing deportation amid the COVID-19 pandemic gripping our country.

Today’s Supreme Court ruling further strengthens our commitment to fighting the Trump administration’s entire anti-immigrant agenda. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of Mississippians have seen their DACA opportunity expire over the past 3 years, or were shut out of the program before they could apply. MCJ is preparing to take action in the coming days to address the urgency of this moment.

 

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Mississippi Center for Justice is a nonprofit, public interest law firm committed to advancing racial and economic justice. Supported and staffed by attorneys and other professionals, the Center develops and pursues strategies to combat discrimination and poverty statewide.