Dear {{ user.first_name|default:”Friend” }},
An executive order to stop deportations might be delayed again, this time until after November. Senate Democrats are getting nervous about the upcoming elections and want President Obama to act with caution.1
But the last thing we need right now is for President Obama to be “cautious.” We need him to be bold. More than 2 million people have already been deported, tearing families apart. The moral thing to do would be to put an end to deportations now instead of continuing to delay relief for millions.
More than 7300 people have signed a new petition urging the President to use his full executive power to stop deportations for all 11 million undocumented immigrants — including the refugee children at the border waiting for relief.
Will you help us get to 10,000 signatures?
The more people who step up and take action, the more our message will resonate with the media that our community demands an end to deportations now — no more delays.
The full email we sent Presente members last week is below — read on for more information.
Thanks and ¡adelante!
Arturo
|
Dear {{ user.first_name|default:”Friend” }},
In the next few weeks, President Obama could finally do what he refused to do for years — use his executive power to stop deportations.2 But it may only apply to a small number of undocumented immigrants.
Let’s be clear: The President is only acting because for years Presente, NDLON, various Dreamer groups, and a few other organizations in our community have courageously pressured him by relentlessly telling the truth about the legacy of his administration on deportations.
But there are reports that Obama’s executive order would only benefit up to 5 of the 11 million undocumented immigrants that are waiting for relief.3 This could result in millions more deportations and separated families in the years to come. We can’t accept this.
We have gotten this far because we never let up calling on the President to take action. If our community speaks up now, while Mr. Obama decides how far-reaching he should go, we can push the President once again to do what’s right — stop deportations for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, and not one fewer.
In light of the Obama Administration’s over 2 million deportations that have only broken up endless numbers of families and instilled fear in our communities, stopping deportations for all 11 million undocumented immigrants would be the moral thing to do. But it’s unclear at this point what exactly the President will do. He is awaiting recommendations from Attorney General Erick Holder and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
And the possibilities being floated so far would be limited in scope. One option would be granting temporary legal status to family members of the over 550,000 undocumented youth currently benefiting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Another option would be granting temporary protected status to parents and legal guardians of U.S. citizens, estimated at 3.8 million immigrant parents. Even making deferred-action available to anyone who would qualify under the Senate immigration reform bill of 2013 would only cover up to 8.3 of the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in need of relief.4
As the President makes up his mind about how far his executive actions will go in stopping deportations, it’s now more critical than ever that he hears from us! Anti-immigrant forces recognize the historic nature of this period and are already moving to intimidate the President into not doing anything at all. House Republicans have initiated a lawsuit against Obama for “executive overstep” and have voted to strip his authority to renew or expand DACA, the program already benefiting undocumented youth.5 There’s even talk of impeaching the President.6
In light of his record of tearing our families apart never before seen by any other President before him, it’s imperative that Obama stand up and do the right thing by our community — grant relief for all of the 11 million undocumented immigrants!
Thanks and ¡adelante!
Arturo, Refugio, Mariana, and the rest of the Presente.org Team
P.S. Can you donate $5 to support our work? We rely on contributions from people like you to see campaigns like this through.
Sources:
1. Possible immigration rift for Obama with Democrats, Associated Press, August 16, 2014
2. Obama Is Preparing To Make One Of The Boldest Moves Of His Presidency — And It Could Stretch The Scope Of Executive Power, Business Insider, August 6, 2014
3. White House pursuing plan to expand immigrant rights, The LA Times, July 25, 2014
4. Immigration crisis forces Obama to ‘act alone’ with executive orders, The Guardian, August 4, 2014
5. Obama’s immigration action could set off political firestorm, MSNBC, August 6, 2014
6. Steve King: Obama immigration move should spark impeachment talks, Politico, August 3, 2014