The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, US Region, applaud the decision of the Supreme Court to allow the DACA program to remain in place. We will continue to urge Congress to put forth legislation to regularize the status of Dreamers and provide a meaningful path to citizenship. We commit our advocacy to this endeavor especially in light of the commission of our foundress, St. Maria De Mattias: “The spirit of this holy work is all love. We have carved this word in our minds and on our hearts. I repeat, Love! Love toward God and our dear neighbor…” We consider these young people ‘our dear neighbor’ and deserving of being fully recognized American citizens.
We wholeheartedly endorse the statement of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and provide it here:
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious Welcomes SCOTUS Decision on DACA
Statement issued by Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious is grateful that the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s attempt to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The Court’s ruling safeguards the right of 700,000 DACA recipients to live and work in the country that is their home. This is an enormous victory for the immigrant youth who have led the challenge to the Trump administration’s attempt to end the program that has protected our colleagues, students, neighbors, and friends from the threat of deportation.
DACA recipients have long contributed to our communities and our economy. They are teachers and engineers, specialist and essential workers of every kind. Nearly 30,000 DACA recipients are among the healthcare workers combating the outbreak of COVID-19 working to prevent the spread of the virus and to save the lives of those infected.
While we welcome the Court’s ruling, we recognize that this is not a permanent solution. We call on members of Congress to move expeditiously to pass legislation that will provide lasting stability for DACA recipients, those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Dreamers, their families and our communities. It is long past time to enact a Dream Act that provides a path to citizenship without including funding for detention, deportation, or border militarization, or provisions that would limit opportunities for family reunification. The House of Representatives has already passed the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (HR 6). It is time for the Senate to do the same.
Catholic sisters will continue to advocate for bipartisan legislation that addresses the injustices in our current immigration system. We will continue to stand in solidarity with our black and brown neighbors who seek the justice and dignity that is their right.
We note that this decision comes as Black people and their allies have courageously organized to demand an end to police brutality, systemic racism, and white supremacy. Our commitment to the gospel mandate to uphold the dignity of all people requires that we recommit ourselves to the work of dismantling all those systems that oppress people of color and to advocate for Black lives and the protection of immigrants.
LCWR is an association of leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. The conference has approximately 1,350 members, who represent about 80 percent of the women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, LCWR assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel in today’s world.
For more information:
Contact Ann Marie Sanders, IHM, Director of Communications for LCWR.