Immigrant Families In Madison Show Support For Deportation Protection Programs

Immigrant families and public officials gathered in Madison on Monday to show support as President Barack Obama’s deportation protection programs went before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Obama created the programs Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans — also known as DACA and DAPA — by executive order in 2014. They are facing a legal challenge from a coalition of Republican governors, including Wisconsin’s Gov. Scott Walker.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the programs on Monday.

Lupe Salmeron, a high school senior in Madison, said the programs have helped her.

“DACA has empowered me to get out, to step out of the shadows and show the world what hard-working immigrants like us can actually do,” said Salmeron..

Salmeron also said DACA has allowed her to get a part-time job and inspired her to pursue higher education.

A handful of public officials joined Salmeron and others in support of the programs, including Madison Police Chief Mike Koval and Madison Alder Shiva Bidar. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said the issue is one of social justice.

“There is discrimination and there is bias in this country, there is prejudice,” Soglin said. “And it is time for justice for everyone.”

If the Supreme Court splits on the decision along party lines — a real possibility, given that a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia hasn’t yet been approved by the U.S. Senate — the case will go back to a Texas court that struck down the programs.