Reform Movement Applauds Supreme Court Decision Preserving DACA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2020

Reform Movement Applauds Supreme Court Decision Preserving DACA

WASHINGTON -- In response to today’s Supreme Court decision preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement Institutions:

“We are grateful for today’s Supreme Court decision allowing for the preservation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). The nearly 800,000 DACA recipients, for whom the United States is the only home they know, can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. The Supreme Court has denied the administration’s attempt to destroy DREAMers’ aspirations of studying, working, and contributing to their communities in the United States.

“Each year on Passover, we read the story of how our ancestors defied the cruel demands of the capricious Pharaoh and pursued freedom for our people. We are commanded to read the Exodus story as if we ourselves come out of Egypt, and in doing so, we recognize the plight of others yearning to find shelter. Though we are pleased with today’s decision, we remain strongly committed to working in solidarity with DREAMers to ensure their ongoing safety and security in the United States.

“DACA was only intended to be and remains a temporary solution. We call upon the Senate to do its part and pass the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which has been gathering dust since its House passage nearly a year ago. By establishing legal status and a pathway to citizenship, the American Dream and Promise Act would ensure DACA, TPS, and DED recipients are allowed to stay with their families and contribute to the country they call home.”

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 850 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.