06.24.16
WKKF Headline
News

Keeping families together is top priority following Supreme Court ruling that blocks immigration reform

Contact: 
Robyn Dornweerd
269.969.2079
robyn.dornweerd@wkkf.org

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – We are disappointed that yesterday’s Supreme Court split decision set no precedent and as a result, millions of undocumented immigrants will not have the security they deserve to thrive. This ruling underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform so that families, communities and the nation are not living in fear and instead are made stronger.

The Supreme Court’s 4-4 ruling in United States vs. Texas forces the lower court to reconsider whether President Obama exceeded his executive powers with the initiative Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This action would have allowed some undocumented immigrant children and parents to temporarily live and work in the United States.

While the ruling is a setback for our nation and puts millions of families in danger of being torn apart, disrupting communities and our economy, it does not impact the president’s earlier DACA 2012 action, which provides an opportunity for some undocumented children to live in the United States.

While the lack of clarity by the Supreme Court is disappointing and needlessly keeps undocumented families in limbo and in fear of deportation, our foundation will continue to support efforts that build and preserve the a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families.

We believe in a nation where all children thrive, and to reach that vision, we need to keep families together and preserve the stability of the communities where they live.  No child should ever have to live with the crippling fear of losing a parent to deportation and having their families ripped apart. We recognize how immigrants contribute – and will continue to contribute – to our communities and our economy.

In the wake of today’s decision, we are committed more than ever to build an America where families can focus less on their immigration status, and instead focus on what every parent aims to do: protecting, loving and creating the best possible future for their children.  

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation 
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti.