Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Disappointed in Court Ruling Against DACA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2022

CHICAGO, IL - The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus is disappointed a federal appeals court yesterday said the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy violates U.S. immigration law, dealing a blow to this vital program that provides deportation protection and work permits to nearly 600,000 immigrant Dreamers who lack legal status.

“A decade ago, we welcomed the announcement of DACA and the protections it offered individuals brought to the U.S. as children to apply for temporary protection from deportation,” said Chairman of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward Alderman. “But today we are infuriated that a court ruling takes away this vital protection. We need Congress to pass legislation permanently protecting all Dreamers—and not just those who qualify for DACA, but the many others who have lived for years in legal limbo. That is the true solution here.”

Passing legislation permanently protecting our undocumented youth should not be a heavy lift for Congress. The DACA initiative is a proven winner and an unquestionably valuable program with quantifiable, significant, and long-lasting impacts on families, local communities, our economy, and our nation. The uncertainty that undocumented youth is forced to endure is completely unnecessary and Congress should act on the will of the American people in finally doing what is right – passing legislation to create a path to citizenship for dreamers across the U.S.

The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus is committed to defending Dreamers against these attacks and will stand with these individuals to have their voices heard and fight for a chance to create a better life in the U.S.

The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus was created to fight for the well-being and betterment of all Latino residents of Chicago. The Caucus includes 13 members from across the city. They represent wards as diverse as Chicago itself. In addition to Chairman Gilbert Villegas (36) and Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33), the Caucus membership includes: Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1), Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10), Ald. George Cardenas (12), Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22), Ald. Silvana Tabares (23), Ald. Bryon Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26), Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30), Ald. Felix Cardona (31), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), and Ald. Andre Vasquez (40). Chicago’s Clerk Anna Valencia is an ex-officio member of the Latino Caucus.