U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after oral arguments today at the U.S. Supreme Court on the President’s Immigration Executive Actions:

“Today the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas, which is a challenge to the President’s executive action that provides temporary protection from deportation for certain children and families. The road leading to this point has been paved by years of obstruction by Republicans in Congress who time after time blocked immigration reform bills and thwarted common sense solutions, despite years of urging by our Florida families, businesses, universities, law enforcement agencies, churches and faith leaders. In Florida, commonsense immigration reform would lift families and boost industries that are central to our economy, such as technology, agriculture, tourism and construction.

“In the face of Republican obstruction, it was necessary for President Obama to act by executive order, just as he did in 2012 when he granted temporary relief to DREAM Act students who were born outside America but know no other country and have no other home. It is within the President’s authority to take appropriate steps to focus law enforcement efforts on deporting felons, not families. In Florida, an estimated 150,000 of our neighbors are eligible for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and 14,000 are eligible for expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – these productive individuals could come out of the shadows, work, go to school and participate in our economy.”

United States v. Texas is a challenge to President Obama’s executive actions announced Nov. 20, 2014, to launch DAPA and an expansion of DACA. U.S. Rep. Castor signed an amicus brief in United States v. Texas and was the only member of Congress from Tampa Bay to do so. Moreover, U.S. Rep. Castor has led numerous efforts locally to defend our families. Just within the last year, she hosted U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL4) in a Family Defenders Rally to prepare families for implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA. She then held a Family Defenders Orientation with local attorneys, law enforcement, nonprofits and others who intervene with immigrants to convene community resources and prepare for the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA. She also has met several times with local Hispanic faith leaders and released a Family Defenders Toolkit.

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