Members of community-based organizations from the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network, including LUPE, joined groups from across the state in Austin on the last leg of a three day pilgrimage to the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday, Nov. 21 for immigration reform.

The march marked the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s executive actions known as DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans) and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).

Related story: LUPE Statement: “Despite court ruling on DAPA and expanded DACA, we will win”

Texas families are standing together asking for Texas Governor Greg Abbott stop obstructing progress and allow reforms to move forward. Members of the Rio Grande Equal Voice Network want to demonstrate the strength and solidarity of the movement and demand that the Governor stop scapegoating and criminalizing immigrant families who call Texas home.

Governor Abbott, acting then as the attorney general, led the 26-state lawsuit against the implementation of President Obama’s executive orders. The lawsuit has caused irreparable harm to the 750,000 potential beneficiaries of the action living in Texas, as well as costing $300 million in direct loss of revenue in Texas.

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Austin’s Workers’ Defense Project organized the action at the governor’s mansion where they demanded that the governor meet with the immigrant families he has harmed with his opposition to immigration relief.

The Equal Voice Network recently collected 300 letters of support for DAPA/DACA from Valley businesses, indicating the community’s broad support for the president’s executive actions.

According to analysis by the Center for American Progress, seven counties in the State of Texas represent over 60 percent of the DAPA and DACA eligible Texans. Hidalgo and Cameron counties are two of the seven counties in the State of Texas that will benefit most from the President’s administrative relief programs. Both counties have passed resolutions in support of the programs.

 

Slideshow: Photos from pilgrimage in Austin, Texas

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