Black women applaud U.S. Supreme Court decision protecting Dreamers

Statement by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda Founder and President Marcela Howell

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that the Trump administration cannot carry out its plan to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has allowed nearly 800,000 young people to avoid deportation and remain in the U.S. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President Marcela Howell issued the following statement:

“We applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for upholding the rights of Dreamers to continue living, working and going to school in the communities they call home, without the daily fear of deportation. This decision is not only important for young Latinx immigrants, but also for the 3.8 million Black immigrants, who face the oppressions of xenophobia, religious intolerance, racism and sexism.=

“While today’s ruling is a victory for those protected under DACA and — for the communities where they contribute — it is not enough. Demonizing and terrorizing immigrants ― especially immigrants of color ― has been a centerpiece of Trump’s presidency. Even with today’s decision, Trump will, at best, continue his cruelty-as-policy approach and dangerous anti-immigrant, racist and nationalist rhetoric — if not ratchet up to appease his base.

“We demand that Congress recognize that immigrants’ rights are human rights by passing immigration law reforms, immediately.”

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national Reproductive Justice organization focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national, regional and state levels in our ongoing fight to secure Reproductive Justice for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people and youth. Our strategic partners include Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc., SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.