Immigrant Rights Groups Happy to See Her Go, Call on President to
Renounce Deportation Quota, Expand DACA for all
Los Angeles, CA – July 12, 2013
In reaction to the announced resignation of DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and her planned move to head the University of California, Chris Newman, legal director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement:
“We are pleased to see her go. Janet Napolitano’s tenure on immigration- perhaps with the sole exception of DACA- has been an unmitigated failure. While Napolitano largely avoided political blame for her disastrous policies by seeking a contrast between her and the very extremists like Joe Arpaio who she empowered, she ultimately will be remembered as the Secretary who brought Arizona’s repugnant policies to the rest of the country. Indeed, there is now little difference between remaining portions of Arizona’s SB 1070 and her Se Communities deportation program.
Napolitano’s departure provides the President an opportunity to reverse course on policies of Arizonification. The President can start by ending the Se Communities program and renouncing the deportation quota that drives it. He can halt the border militarization that not even Republicans are calling for. And more than anything, he can take the one bright spot of Napolitano’s tenure, deferred action for dream-eligible youth, and expand it to all undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States.
Meanwhile in California, we expect her arrival will be met with protests. UC should take the opportunity to thoroughly examine her record in Arizona and at DHS to see if it reflects the university’s values before they confirm her to this important post.”
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