Demonstrators gathered at Wilshire and Western to show their support of the expanded DACA and DAPA programs on Friday.
More than a dozen Koreans participated in a demonstration on Friday on the corner of Wilshire and Western in Los Angeles, chanting, "What do we want?" "Admin relief!" "When do we want it?" "Now!" The gathering was led by the Korean Resource Center (KRC), a non-profit organization that aims to provide resources for low-income Korean families and Korean immigrants in the community, and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), a non-profit organization that focuses on civil and immigrant rights.
The rally took place on the same day that the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, located in New Orleans, was hearing an oral argument from administration lawyers who asked that the injunction placed on President Obama's executive order on immigration would be lifted.
On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced several executive actions that expanded those who are eligible for the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and created a new measure called the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), which allows undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to request deferred action and employment authorization for three years. The measures would protect some five million people from being deported. However, a Texas court ruled in February that Obama's new measures were an abuse of his powers, and placed an injunction on the measures. Since then, the application processes for the expanded DACA and DAPA programs have been placed on hold.
Immigrants' rights groups and activists in some 30 different states have been participating in protests and demonstrations Friday, like that of the KRC, to show their support for the executive action and the expanded programs for immigrants.
"The oral argument that's taking place today is just regarding lifting the hold on the DACA and DAPA applications processes, and it isn't the final decision regarding the executive order itself," said Jenny Seon from the KRC. "But we're out here today to let people know that they don't have to be worried or fearful about today's results. Regardless of the results, those who are interested in applying for the DACA or DAPA programs should prepare the necessary items or contact the KRC or other non-profits as necessary, and to be ready for the day when the final decision is made, which we believe that it will turn out favorably."
The hearing on Friday ran two and a half hours long, according to reports, and the judges did not comment on when a decision would be made.
Regardless of the decision that comes from the oral arguments specifically on the injunction of the executive order, another hearing will be taking place in May or June also at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to determine whether President Obama's executive actions were an overreach of his authority.
Demonstrators held protests in some 30 different states on Friday, the day in which the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals was hearing oral arguments to lift the injunction on President Obama's executive orders on immigration.
