Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer Tuesday announced the filing of a brief in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program, which has protected more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. when they were children from deportation.
President Donald Trump first ordered the termination of the Obama-era program to give deferral from deportation and work permits to “Dreamers” who arrived in the country illegally as minors in September 2017, setting off a host of lawsuits. The U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 12 is scheduled to hear arguments on whether to end the program.
“I stand with Dreamers,” Feuer said. “This strong nationwide coalition stands with them, too. DACA recipients exemplify core American values of hard work, education and belief in a better tomorrow.”
Feuer said about 13% of DACA recipients live in Los Angeles, and 105 cities and counties from 30 different states have also signaled their support for the program that was established in 2012.
Under the program, undocumented immigrants who had been brought to the U.S. as children could renew their status every two years so long as they didn’t commit any crimes and had satisfied educational or military service requirements.
“Dreamers embody the values of this country through their work ethic, their optimism and unwavering loyalty to this nation,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said. “DACA recipients are military veterans, medical students and workers at Fortune 500 companies. The County of Los Angeles opposes this administration’s attempts to do away with DACA. We will not stop fighting.”