Early this morning, Judge Andrew Hansen in Brownsville, TX issued an injunction in the court case of 26 states, including Texas, that are suing the federal government over the implementation of two deportation-relief programs announced by the Obama administration in November 2014: the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the newly issued Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) for parents of citizen and permanent resident children. The injunction blocks these programs from being implemented until the injunction is appealed and the case makes its way to higher courts.
On hearing the news, the Reverend J. Herbert Nelson, PC(USA) Director for Public Witness, said, "I am deeply disappointed that Judge Hansen has chosen to assert his political ideology, to the cost of millions of our sisters and brothers in Christ who will benefit from the legal protections and work permits (albeit temporary) these programs provide. This is a political move, announced on the day before thousands should have been able to submit applications for the expanded DACA program. The ruling is temporary and the issue remains to be decided by higher courts, but this injunction galvanizes us to continue to pray and to organize for full rights and dignity for our immigrant sisters and brothers.
