High Court Protections for Dreamers Affirm Core American Values

WASHINGTON - In a victory for just and equitable immigration policy, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Trump administration effort to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which provides needed protections for undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children and young people.

Mitch Bernard, Executive Director and Chief Counsel for NRDC, which joined with Public Citizen and the American Civil Liberties Union to file a friend of the court brief in support of DACA’s defenders in the case, made the following statement:

“This ruling makes clear we don’t punish children and young people for coming to America in search of a better life. It means justice for some 700,000 Dreamers who are studying in this country, serving in our military or working as teachers, lawyers, even doctors and nurses helping save lives on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This ruling is a win for Dreamers in their long and courageous struggle for recognition that their home is here in this country. And it ensures that we all will continue to benefit from their talents, gifts and dreams. That’s the right call - for all of us.”

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​