SAN FRANCISCO - Undocumented youth are calling on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop the deportations of families. The Lee and Rahayuningsih families' children have been permitted to stay through the Obama Administration's deferred action policy while their parents are being deported. In June, the Administration announced that it would suspend deportations of thousands of undocumented youth through deferred action. However, with over 1.7 million deportations, the Administration has continued to deport the parents of these youth through unprecedented levels of immigration enforcement. In response, the Asian Law Caucus and undocumented youth are launching Our Families Matter, a campaign to stop the separation of families.

"My brother has brain cancer and is unable to live independently. Deferred action means nothing if we are unable to care for him." said Wei Lee. The Lee family fled persecution against Chinese immigrants in Brazil to come to the United States over fifteen years ago. The continued deportations are in stark contrast to the stated policy of ICE to dismiss low priority deportation cases, including cases against long-term residents without criminal histories. However, ICE has not followed through on this policy. Despite meeting the definition of a low priority case, ICE continues to pursue deportation orders against the Lee and Rahayuningsih families.

"Granting us deferred action and then turning around to take our parents away doesn't make things right. Young people need their families for support, nurture, and growth." said Putri Siti Dyannie. While Putri no longer faces removal, her parents, including her father who is recovering from cancer, face deportation to Indonesia. "I'm overjoyed that Putri gets a chance to get a work permit and contribute to the country she grew up in, but I can't imagine life without being able to see her." said Doddy Aprilachtieno, Putri's father.

"We are encouraged by the President's commitment to immigration reform, but ICE is not keeping its promises. They're continuing to deport low priority cases. They need to stop separating families." said Anoop Prasad, Staff Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, who is representing the Lee and Rahayuningish families. The Asian Law Caucus requests that ICE stop the separation of immigrant families including the Lee and Rahayuningsih families.