For Immediate Release
June 18, 2020
Contact: Brian Reardon

Statement by Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, President and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

WASHINGTON, DC – The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) welcomes today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court finding that the Administration unlawfully ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. CHA and the Catholic health ministry have been strong supporters of this program and the thousands of young immigrants protected by it. Many of these “Dreamers” have studied and trained to become caregivers across the U.S. and are now providing essential care during a worldwide pandemic as employees in our member organizations.

Dreamers have proven themselves to be valued members of our nation’s workforce, education system, military and economy, and provided inspiration to all of us through their hard work and perseverance. They deserve the protections provided by the DACA program.

CHA supports the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 to provide permanent protection and a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. This legislation has passed in the House of Representatives, and CHA again calls on the Senate to pass legislation immediately to protect the Dreamers and ensure that they can continue to make their valuable contributions to our society. 

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.

• 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
• Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.
• Learn more at www.chausa.org.