Unfortunate Tie in the Case of
United States V. Texas

On June 24, 2016, the Supreme Court announced that it was tied (4 - 4) in the case United States v. Texas, a challenge to President Obama's deferred immigration initiatives known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or (DAPA) and an expanded version of his 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  The Supreme Court was deadlocked at 4 to 4, and issued a decision that was nine words long: "The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court."  This failure to reach a decision has dire consequences for 4.5 million immigrants living in the United States who can now face deportation as this decision allows the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to stand which blocks DAPA and the expanded DACA from going into effect.  This action does not allow for immigrants living in the United States to apply for protection from deportation and impacts their ability to work legally in the U.S.  

DAPA was intended to allow undocumented parents to remain in the U.S. with their children who were born in the United States.  Expanded DACA was intended to allow students who graduated from United States high schools to attend our nation's colleges and universities without fear. We are a nation founded by immigrants and higher education allows each of us to pursue a better life.  This is not a political issue--it is a human rights issue affecting individuals with hopes and dreams of getting an education, raising a family, and aspirations of working legally in this country.   

NADOHE supports fair and just immigration policies that uphold the educational and human rights of diverse immigrant communities.  We send our support to the students and their families and we urge Washington to end the deadlock and work toward comprehensive immigration reform. 

The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) serves as the preeminent voice for diversity officers in higher education. Its vision is to lead higher education towards inclusive excellence through institutional transformation. NADOHE has more than 600 institutional and individual members. For more information please call 561-472-8479.