“Where is the leadership and courage from President Obama?” asked Gregory Cendana, Chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), “Asian Americans are losing hope.”
Asian American and Pacific Islander advocates for immigration reform, including NCAPA, a coalition of thirty-three national Asian Pacific American organizations, expressed disappointment with the Obama Administration’s announcement that administrative relief for undocumented immigrant families will be delayed until after the November elections.
Cendana said that continued delay means 1100 more families will be broken apart every day, and 70,000 more people will be deported. 1.3 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are undocumented.
In the last few days, immigration advocates responded with new campaigns -- virtually and in the real world -- to keep up pressure on the administration to act: on Twitter with the hashtags #WeCantWait, #NoMoreDelays, #GoBigObama, #Not1More, and #FightForFamilies; in Twitter Town Halls; at rallies and press conferences; with postcard campaigns; and by occupying spaces such as Senator Harry Reid’s office.
“We vow to continue to escalate our organizing and our actions so our elected leaders know the consequences of their decisions,” said Cendana. “We will push for administrative relief as soon as possible, not after the election.”
IN-DEPTH
- Postcards to the President: We Need Immigration Reform Now
- Undocumented Asian Americans Step On Stage to Share Stories
- Obama to Delay Immigration Action Until After November Elections