Washington D.C., Mar 12, 2016 / 14:03 pm
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to uphold the Obama administration's temporary relief for millions of undocumented persons in the U.S. eligible for deportation.
"Courts have repeatedly recognized that there is a public interest in maintaining stable families and communities," stated an amicus brief filed March 8 by the USCCB and other faith-based groups.
At stake in United States v. Texas is Obama's 2014 executive action, the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, that delayed the deportation of millions.
The action granted parents with children born in the U.S., and thus citizens or lawful permanent residents by birthright, a stay on their deportation if they met certain conditions like having lived in the U.S. for at least five years, passing a background check, and paying taxes. Up to 3.7 million persons could be eligible, the Migration Policy Institute estimated, as cited in the brief.