A year ago tomorrow President Obama announced his executive orders to defer deportation for immigrant families by creating Deferred Action for Parents (DAPA) and expanding Deferred Action for Children (DACA). Since then, the promised reform has been stalled by a politically motivated lawsuit filed in the Fifth Circuit Court by Texas Governor Greg Abbott that left the lives of five million immigrants in limbo.

Tomorrow, immigrants are rallying across the country in support of the executive action. In Texas, immigrant families are on a three-day pilgrimage, which starts today at the Hutto immigrant detention facility in Taylor, Texas, and ends in front of the Texas Governor’s Mansion on November 21 with a rally of thousands. Protestors will call on Governor Abbott to meet with the families he has affected through his opposition to comprehensive immigration reform.

Simultaneously, hundreds of immigrant families will gather at 11.30 a.m. tomorrow November 20 in front of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. to demand the promised reforms be implemented. Following the Fifth Circuit Court’s decision earlier this month to block the executive orders, the Obama administration is expected to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, which must now decide to hear the case in 2016 before President Obama leaves office.

At 3 p.m. tomorrow, a group of advocates will host a Thanksgiving dinner outside of the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey for the families who have been separated due to detentions and deportations. They will call on the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement to change its damaging policies toward immigrant families.

"Today is a day to lift up the promise of Obama’s Executive Action and call on all parties to do what they can to see it through. No one can claim to be powerless in this fight. We call on the Supreme Court Justices to take up this case and will work with our partners around the country to bring the stories and passion of immigrant families to the forefront of the discussion. Local cities and states can voice their support, and those state leaders that continue to bait and persecute immigrants, will face steady, mounting protest,” said Shena Elrington, Director of Immigrant Rights & Racial Justice at Center for Popular Democracy.

Jessel Pinzon, a high school student and a Make the Road New York member, who came to the United States in October 2008: “When expanded DACA takes effect, I will be able to have a better job and apply for scholarships to go to college. I will have the opportunity to stay in this country which I consider my home, and where I want to build my future. The Fifth Circuit’s decision came from judges who have shown time after time that they are against our families. Now our fight goes on to the Supreme Court!”

 Ehiracenia Vasquez, member of the Texas Organizing Project, which is behind the Texas pilgrimage: “One year ago, when President Obama announced that he was extending deportation relief to parents of citizen and US-born children, my heart sang. Finally, my husband and I would no longer have to live in fear of being separated from our children, from each other. My children wouldn’t have to worry about their parents being taken away from them. It was the answer to our prayers.

“I am frustrated but not discouraged that a year later, Gov. Greg Abbott’s lawsuit has kept us from realizing that dream. I refuse to be discouraged. I have faith that the US Supreme Court will side with our President and DAPA will become a reality for us. I’m ready to apply. I’ve been ready since the President announced it a year ago. And I’m ready to keep fighting.”

# # #

 www.populardemocracy.org

The Center for Popular Democracy promotes equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. CPD builds the strength and capacity of democratic organizations to envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial justice agenda.