IRVINE, CA - The Supreme Court has tied in a ruling on immigration reform, ruling 4-4 in United States v. Texas to affirm a lower court’s injunction against an executive action that would have shielded undocumented immigrants from deportation.

The case revolved around an executive action from President Barack Obama that expanded the Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and added the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, allowing immigrants who qualified to be eligible to apply to stay in the country for three years to work legally.

Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif, had these comments in response to this week’s Supreme Court ruling:

“We believe our nation’s immigration policies should be determined by the legislative branch of our federal government. We also recognize that Congress has abdicated its duty to reform our broken immigration system, which is why we understand the motivation of the Obama Administration. However, neither DAPA, DACA, nor any other Executive Order will adequately address the long-term immigration challenges facing our country,” explained Nassif.

Nassif continued, “In light of this ruling, we urge the Administration and all members of Congress to reflect on their responsibilities to the American public and renew the immigration reform debate in earnest. Congress should bring forth a comprehensive immigration reform plan that considers agriculture’s unique needs. Any reform measure should include provisions granting legal status to existing farmworkers and one that creates a new, more workable and market-oriented visa program to ensure a future flow of labor."

As more information is released about the pending immigration actions, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you updates.

Western Growers