Supreme Court Decision Upholds DACA
Washington, D.C.— June 18, 2020 — In a 5-4 ruling today, the Supreme Court declared that the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration was not legally authorized to terminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2017.
The National Association of Asian American Professionals applauds the Supreme Court decision as DACA protects eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States as children to continue to live, study, and work here without fear of deportation, interruption, or family separation.
Of the 1.2 million immigrants who were eligible for DACA, 120,000 are Asian. DACA recipients can get a work permit and work legally in the United States.
Currently, 70% of essential workers during COVID-19 pandemic are Black, Hispanic, or Asian. Twenty-one percent of physicians, 22 percent of pharmacists, and 9% of nurses are of Asian heritage. Asian Americans are a vital part of the professional workforce and the essential workforce during COVID-19.
As DACA does not provide a permanent pathway to citizenship, NAAAP urges Congress to work together to reform immigration policy.
About NAAAP
The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) is the premier leadership organization for Asian professionals in North America, with 30+ chapters, several thousand active members, and a reach of more than 20,000 professionals. Since 1982, NAAAP has operated as a nonprofit to inspire, develop, and connect leaders in all major industries and countless communities through professional development and community service.