FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Media Contact:
Eric L. Steckel,
Communications Manager
510-768-3147

esteckel@cceb.org

Catholic Charities of the East Bay Confident US Fifth Court of Appeals

Will Reject Lawsuit on Legality of the President's Executive Orders
Leading East Bay immigration legal services agency urges potential applicants to
continue with process and avoid scams
OAKLAND, Calif. February 17, 2015 Catholic Charities of the East Bay is confident that the
preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks the implementation process of President Obamas
executive actions on the expansion of deferred action programs for some undocumented
immigrants will be rejected by the US Fifth Court of Appeals. Catholic Charities of the East Bay,
a social services agency serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, is a leading provider of
legal services to low-income immigrant families and undocumented children in the East Bay.
The announcement yesterday by the district court judge in Brownsville, Texas may
confuse or discourage eligible immigrants from applying, said Christopher Martinez, director of
legal services at Catholic Charities of the East Bay. However, we believe that this is just a
temporary setback. We encourage applicants to continue moving forward with the process and
to get ready to apply. Save your money, start gathering your evidence, get your passport or IDs,
and stay informed."
Despite the delay, Catholic Charities cautions applicants to be wary of scams and avoid
falling victim to fraud. Notarios, notary publics, and immigration consultants may not provide
legal advice or represent people before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
By law, the only people who may give legal advice or representation before the USCIS are
attorneys and non-attorney representatives who are accredited by the Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA). For more information on attorneys and BIA-accredited representatives, please
visit www.uscis.gov/avoidscams.
"Be wary of scams and misinformation and seek help from qualified legal professionals,
continued Mr. Martinez. This decision does not affect the current Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals program (DACA) that was announced in June, 2012. It only delays the new executive
actions announced by President Obama in November, 2014."

The Catholic Church is the largest provider of social services throughout Alameda and
Contra Costa Counties. Catholic Charities, founded in 1935, is the visible face of the diocese in
that work, and is a BIA recognized organization with licensed attorneys and BIA-accredited
representatives on staff.
About Catholic Charities of the East Bay: Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB) is a
social services agency headquartered in Oakland, California. In the last fiscal year, Catholic
Charities served over 8,000 clients in three primary programs: "Fostering Self-Sufficiency"
provides services designed to strengthen families and increase income to livable wages.
"Welcoming the Stranger" offers legal immigration, refugee relocation and refugee employment
services. "Healing Trauma" delivers immediate and sustained support to victims of crime,
especially those impacted by community, domestic, and family violence, as well as mental
health treatment to students and adolescents experiencing multiple, ongoing incidences of
trauma. For more information, visit www.cceb.org.
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Media Contact:

Eric L. Steckel, Communications Manager Office: 510-768-3147

Mobile: 415-713-2220 E-mail: esteckel@cceb.org