WASHINGTON — Demonstrators chanting “we are the immigrants” crowded in front of the Supreme Court Monday, rallying in support of President Obama’s plan to protect millions of immigrant families from deportation.
Inside, the eight justices heard oral arguments on the United States vs. Texas, which focuses on two plans that would shield nearly 4 million immigrants from deportation and make them eligible for work.
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans would allow the immigrant parents of American-born children — here legally — to get work authorizations; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals would allow immigrant kids who came to the United States before their 16th birthday — and before 2007 — to get work permits.
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If Obama prevails, those parents and children would be spared from deportation.
“We don’t have another choice. We gonna keep fighting. That’s the only way we are going to be winning something,” said Mario Quintero of Michigan, one of more than 1,000 participants at the rally.
As a father of three daughters, Quintero, a construction worker, said he was deported 11 years ago. The construction worker is still undocumented and is awaiting relief from the deferred action program.
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Another family from Michigan wasn’t so lucky.
Sayra Hernandez, 16, who was with her mother at the rally, said they are facing deportation scheduled on April 29.
“It is really important — not just us dealing with the situation. I think it is important to bring back DAPA and immigration reform,” said Hernandez, a student.
In 2010, she said her dad was sent back to Mexico. Now she and her mom may have to go back. That would leave her younger sister, a U.S. citizen, alone in this country.
Brad Thompson, an immigration attorney from Michigan, said if the court ruling goes Obama’s way, it “would give the President the authority and the decision to provide this type of opportunity to the immigrants in the future.”
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The programs have been stymied by a lower court challenge. But if the justices deadlock 4-4 on a decision, the issue could remain unsettled.
Thompson said the current immigration system does not provide any choice to immigrants.
Living in a state known for production of automobiles, many of the undocumented immigrants are operating cars without driver’s licenses.
The participants at the rally remain hopeful.
“I am pretty sure in June, we are going to have a good answer,” said Mario Quintero.
