FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2015

For more information, contact: Hyun-Jung Kim 718.460.5600 hyunjung.kim@minkwon.org

MinKwon Center Responds to the Texas Court Ruling Temporarily Halting the President’s Executive Action

Flushing, NY – On February 16, 2015, a Texas federal court judge issued an injunction that temporarily halts the rollout of President Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration.  The lawsuit was brought by Texas and twenty-five other states.  Thirteen states and thirty cities have filed briefs in support of the administration, including New York State and New York City.

"We are confident that our community will be able to apply for expanded DACA and DAPA after the higher courts review this case," said Grace Shim, Executive Director of the MinKwon Center for Community Action.

The expanded DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) will protect undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children or teenagers and have grown up in the U.S., and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) protects the parents of U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident children.

"We will continue to prepare our community to apply for expanded DACA and DAPA, and we are united in standing ready to defend their right to do so," said Shim. "In the meanwhile, we urge the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals to speedily review this misguided ruling by Judge Andrew Hanen."

The expanded DACA program, announced by President Obama in November 2014, was scheduled to start accepting applications this Wednesday.  DAPA was scheduled to roll out in May 2015.  These programs are now temporarily halted until the higher court can rule on the injunction.  This only affects the administrative relief that was announced in November 2014, and does not affect the DACA program announced in 2012 or its renewal.

The MinKwon Center has successfully provided free legal assistance to hundreds of DACA and DACA renewal applicants since 2012.  The MinKwon Center continues to engage in advocacy to pass comprehensive immigration reform and to protect administrative relief.

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The MinKwon Center for Community Action was established in 1984 to meet the needs and concerns of the Korean American community through immigrant rights and political empowerment.  The MinKwon Center has emerged as a leading organization in building a sustained community for marginalized individuals, including recent immigrants, minorities, low-income residents, limited English proficient persons, elderly and youth.