Corporal Works of Mercy – A Call to Action for DACA
Upcoming Supreme Court Case: DACA
Preparing to offer Pastoral Care: On June 15, 2012, President Barrack Obama created DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA protects undocumented immigrants from deportation for a 2-year (renewable) period and allows them work permits. DACA allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children – known as “Dreamers” – to currently live and work in the U.S.
However, on September 5, 2017, the Trump Administration rescinded DACA and legality of this rescission was challenged in courts across the U.S. The Federal Court in Northern California ordered the U.S. government to temporarily resume accepting DACA renewal applications in January 2018. This court order temporarily blocked the termination of the DACA program nationwide.
The Supreme Court heard oral argument on November 12, 2019 and is likely issue its decision by the end of April. If the Supreme Court upholds the decision to terminate the program, more than 700,000 DACA recipients – and their families – will be impacted.
While, immigration specialists project it is highly unlikely that Dreamers will be deported immediately, they do believe that DACA recipients will not be renewed, which ultimately means they would no longer be able to work and live in the U.S.
This situation is tremendously stressful for everyone it affects – individuals, their families, businesses and even our local parishes. DACA recipients are members of our parishes, members of our priest pool, members of our neighborhoods and more.
At this time, we encourage parish-school leadership to provide a pastoral presence for families by:
- Becoming familiar with DACA and the significance of the upcoming Supreme Court case.
- USCCB Justice for Immigrants
- Northwest Immigrants Rights Project
- Washington State Catholic Conference Immigration Support
- DACA Summary pdf -a historical timeline to be used as a reference
- Praying for DACA recipients and their families.
- Praying for the Supreme Court to exercise wisdom.
- Connecting DACA recipients in your parish who are experiencing anxiety with Joe Cotton in the Pastoral Care office: Cotton@seattlearch.org
Archdiocese of Seattle releases VIDEOS to prepare our parish communities:
Video 1: What is DACA and What are the Pastoral Implications?
Video 2: Bishop Elizondo on DACA:
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please reach out to Joe Cotton in Pastoral Care at Joe.Cotton@seattlearch.org.