Hirono Applauds Supreme Court’s Decision To Hear Immigration Case

Maui DREAM Act students share their issues concerns and strong support for immigration reform with US Senator Mazie Hirono. File photo courtesy US Sen. Mazie Hirono.

US Senator Mazie Hirono released a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments in US v Texas saying today’s announcement, “is a step forward for the millions of undocumented immigrants who remain trapped in the shadows.”

The case challenges President Obama’s expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents programs which were announced more than a year ago.

Sen. Hirono continued saying, “I believe that President Obama’s actions are within his authority, and are in line with immigration actions taken by every President since Dwight Eisenhower.”

She said she is hopeful that the Supreme Court will agree and allow the DAPA and expanded DACA programs, which she said, “would benefit more than five million children and families, to move forward.”

Senator Hirono also vowed to continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform in Congress in an effort to overhaul what she called a “broken immigration system,” and keep families together.

In December 2015, Senator Hirono joined 33 Senators and 184 Representatives in authoring an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold President Obama’s executive action. Senator Hirono was also one of the key authors of the Senate’s 2013 comprehensive immigration reform legislation.