Assemblymember Alejo, California Latino Legislative Caucus Sign Onto Amicus Brief to U.S. Supreme Court in Support of Obama’s Executive Actions on Immigration

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo (D-Salinas), in his role as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, has signed on to an Amicus Brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold President Obama’s executive orders allowing quasi-legal status, deportation relief and work permits for up to 5 million immigrants who entered the United States undocumented as children or who have children who are American citizens.

The brief was filed today by a coalition of business, civic, education and religious figures and institutions in California, who told the court that sound immigration enforcement policy is vital to the strength, stability and safety of California’s communities, families and economy.

“California is home to the largest population of undocumented immigrants,” Assemblymember Alejo said. “President Obama’s executive orders serve the public interest in California by creating stronger, safer and more prosperous communities. We are a nation of immigrants and California embodies the immigrant experience more than any other state. More than a quarter of the nation’s immigrant population lives in California and forty percent of our state’s population consists of immigrants and their children.”

Obama’s executive actions expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and created the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program.

The President’s actions were challenged by the State of Texas, where a federal judge ordered them to be halted. The Supreme Court agreed to decide the case in January and is scheduled to hear arguments in April and hand down a ruling by the end of June.

Other signers of the Amicus Brief include the California Hotel and Lodging Association, California Restaurant Association, Driscoll’s Berries, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, California Endowment, Stanford University and ten chancellors of University of California campuses.

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Contact: Andrew Bird / Andrew.Bird@asm.ca.gov / (916) 319-2030