WASHINGTON— Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement after the Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action and President Obama’s expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs:
“Affirmative Action has long provided opportunity to Americans vulnerable to discrimination. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the University of Texas’ race-based admission guidelines will help students who have not had access to the same resources or opportunities because of longstanding discriminatory policies.
“However, we’re disappointed that the Supreme Court came to a 4-4 deadlock on President Obama’s 2014 immigration executive actions. The President’s was well within his authority to issue these actions, as he was joined by Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and others who took similar steps in the past to keep families together. DAPA and the expansion of DACA would have provided relief for millions of people who work hard and want nothing more than to keep their families together. These families were denied a final verdict, and will now live in fear of deportation because Congressional Republicans refuse to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Moreover, Judge Merrick Garland has been waiting for 100 days to be confirmed, and this is the clearest example yet of their political games doing damage. We hope that the Court revisits this vital issue with the urgency it deserves.
“There are still a number of important issues awaiting decisions by the Supreme Court. They must be heard by nine Justices. Senate Republicans, do your job.”
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