New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice Celebrates SCOTUS Ruling on DACA Program Calling Trump Administration’s Termination “Arbitrary and Capricious”

Immigrant rights advocates stand with Black people who are courageously fighting for their right to live without state violence and call on Congress and New Jersey Legislature to implement protections for undocumented immigrants.

Newark, NJ — June 18th, 2020 — Amid a global pandemic and protests for Black lives, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against the Trump administration’s termination of the program in a 5-4 ruling. As Black people fight for their right to live without state violence at the hands of the police in the United States, immigrant rights advocates in New Jersey stand in solidarity with the movement for Black lives. Immigrant rights advocates celebrate the ruling by standing with Black immigrants and Black communities who are especially impacted by this violence and exclusion through xenophobic policies and the Trump administration’s white supremacist agenda.

In response, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice released the following statements.

Maneesha Kelkar, Interim Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said,

“The Supreme Court ruling against the Trump administration’s termination of the DACA program, allowing DACA to continue is a triumphant victory for immigrant communities and youth who have fought courageously for the program. As we celebrate the victories for immigrant youth, we also celebrate the fight of Black organizers calling for an end to racist police violence. Young immigrants, including Black immigrants, are essential to our communities. The fight to end police violence benefits us all. This ruling shows once more that when the most impacted community members stand up and fight, we all win.

The reality remains that the Trump administration could again attempt to terminate the DACA program. We call on Congress and NJ legislature to put in place policies that create permanent protections for all immigrants.”

Katy Sastre, Outreach Coordinator, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said,

“This ruling is a victory for immigrant youth who fought for DACA for years and now are on the frontline fighting to save lives during the pandemic and serving the country they know as home. It’s not just immigrants who are celebrating the victory but their loved ones, thousands who are U.S citizens.

“DACA shows us that we can win when we come together, and we will continue to do just that.”