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Celebrating 40 Years:
1980-2020
THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY APPLAUDS THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES FOR ITS DECISION ON DACA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2020
The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (“HBA-NJ”) applauds the Supreme Court of the United States’ (“SCOTUS”) decision to reject the Department of Homeland Security’s (“DHS”) attempt to rescind the program known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”). DACA is an immigration relief program that allows certain individuals, who arrived as children in the United States, to apply for forbearance of removal proceedings. An individual granted relief under DACA is eligible for work authorization and other benefits. Approximately 800,000 individuals have been approved for DACA status since the program’s inception in 2012. DACA recipients contribute to the rich diversity of the American population, work, pay taxes – over $8 billion a year according to the Democrats of the Committee on Small Business – and contribute to the economy, growth and livelihood of the United States. This country is their home and the SCOTUS made the right decision to stop the current federal administration from rescinding the DACA program.
HBA-NJ President Melinda Colón Cox said: “The SCOTUS’ decision on DACA is a much needed victory and sign of hope for the Latinx community, especially for the lives of the 800,000 DACA recipients. In the opinion, the SCOTUS recognized the current administration’s and DHS’ haste in ending DACA, but the decision is a reminder that our elected officials must act and provide a legal pathway to citizenship. DACA recipients, for now, can take a breath without the fear of DHS deporting them at a moment’s notice, but there is still much work to be done to protect our immigrant community.”
While the SCOTUS’ decision brings some much needed relief and hope to our immigrant population, the HBA-NJ urges the Senate to pass the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which was passed by the House of Representatives on June 4, 2019 by a vote of 237 to 187. The passage of the legislation would provide protection to DACA recipients, Dreamers and other certain individuals from deportation by providing them with “conditional permanent resident” status, as well as an opportunity to obtain permanent legal status in the United States if certain qualifications are met. As stated by HBA-NJ President Cox: “The SCOTUS decision is a great step in the right direction but the immigrant community deserves more. Immigrants built this country and the United States is their home. The administration must recognize, accept and, most importantly, embrace this large sector of the population that makes America what it is today – beautiful, diverse and rich in culture and in color.”
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About The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
Founded in 1980, the HBA-NJ is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association that is comprised of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and other professionals who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.
The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest: (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
P.O. Box 25562, Newark, NJ 07101
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For press inquiries, please contact: Alba V. Aviles, Esq., HBA-NJ Press Secretary, at aaviles@daypitney.com or (973) 966-8034.
For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, please visit our website at: www.njhba.org or contact Melinda Colón Cox, Esq., HBA-NJ President, at Melinda.Cox@piblaw.com or (908) 333-6214.
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