National Immigration Battle Takes Center Stage in Texas

by John Michaelson/TNS

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Texas is center stage at press time in the national battle over immigration reform, with a court hearing on the lawsuit filed over President Barack Obama’s executive action.

About two dozen states, including Texas, are seeking an injunction against the plan, claiming it’s unconstitutional.

But Michael Seifert, coordinator of the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network, says removing the threat of deportation for certain undocumented workers, students and their parents, which is what the president’s order does, is vital for future financial stability.

“Which would bump the local, but also I think it’s been fairly clear the national economy, probably up to $2 billion in taxes over the next few years just from the beneficiaries of these programs,” he says. “So why are they putting the brakes on something that’s good?”

The hearing is being held just off the U.S.-Mexico border at the Federal Courthouse in Brownsville, where Seifert says community and regional sentiment is in favor of the reforms.

Seifert adds this battle playing out in the courts again points to the need for Congress to act on comprehensive, just and realistic immigration reform, taking into account the economic impact and the impact on these families.

“We have dozens of testimonies from families talking about how the fact that they really want to be an integral part of the community the way they are, but to be recognized for that, and to get out from the fear of deportation,” he states.

Under the president’s executive order, up to 5 million immigrants would be eligible to stay in the country under the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs.