In response to the Supreme Court’s 4-4 tie in DACA+/DAPA, which leaves in place a nationwide injunction against the President’s programs, People For the American Way (PFAW) released the following statements:

Lizet Ocampo, Director of Latinos Vote! and Manager of Political Campaigns:

“The Court’s decision today is devastating. Millions of families across the country were counting on President Obama’s actions to temporarily protect their families from deportation. It leaves in place the nationwide injunction from the overreach of a single anti-immigrant, Republican-appointed judge from Texas.

“The decision serves as a deeply upsetting yet critically important reminder of the importance of the November elections. Donald Trump has pledged mass deportation of the millions of undocumented people in our country – children who know no country other than the United States, mothers and fathers whose children are U.S. citizens. Hillary Clinton has pledged during her campaign to take every available action to keep families together. And while Democrats in Congress have supported DACA, DACA+, and DAPA, Congressional Republicans have done all they could to block the program every step of the way.

“The next president will likely appoint more than one new justice to the Supreme Court. We have a clear choice this November between the Republican presidential candidate and Republicans nationwide who seek to rip families apart, and the Democratic presidential candidate and Democrats nationwide who understand that immigrants make America the country that it is and that families should be protected from deportation.”

Marge Baker, Executive Vice President:

“Today’s decision is a shattering blow to millions of families and a painfully clear illustration of why we need a fully staffed Supreme Court in order to address the most important issues we face as a country. Without issuing a real opinion or providing any reasoning, our hobbled Supreme Court has allowed a single district court judge to implement a twisted ruling that will have a profound impact on the lives of families all across the country. The Court has provided no guidance to lower courts while simultaneously impacting millions of people’s lives.

“This isn’t how our system of justice is supposed to work. Yet Republicans, who are eager to force their ideology into law by any means necessary, have refused to perform their most basic responsibilities and give fair consideration to a pending Supreme Court nominee. This is the result of a broken system of government, and make no mistake, Republicans have broken it on purpose.”

PFAW spokespeople will be at the Supreme Court and will be available throughout the day for interviews in English or Spanish. To schedule an interview or find us at the Court, please call 301-325-4538.

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