U.S. relaxes deportation rules for young immigrants - 0 views
started by Angelo Holland on 21 Jun 12
started by Angelo Holland on 21 Jun 12
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started by Angelo Holland on 21 Jun 12
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that illegal immigrants up to 30 years old who came to the United States as youngsters and do not pose a threat to national security would be eligible to stay in the nation and allowed to apply for work permits.
The policy was announced a single week ahead of President Barack Obama, in search of re-election on November 6, is scheduled to speak to a meeting of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Florida. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also is set to address the group subsequent week.
While public opinion polls show Obama acquiring overwhelming assistance among Hispanic voters, his relations with the fastest growing minority group in the United States have been strained since of his administration's aggressive deportation of illegal immigrants.
There are an estimated 1 million to 2 million illegal immigrants who came to the United States as young children living in the country, according to immigration group estimates.
U.S. officials stated the new measures would affect roughly 800,000 men and women.
"Successful right away, young folks who had been brought to the United States via no fault of their personal as youngsters and who meet several crucial criteria will no longer be removed from the nation or entered into removal proceedings," Napolitano told reporters on a conference call. New Orleans Zoo
"This grant of a deferred action is not immunity, it is not amnesty," she mentioned. "It will aid us continue to streamline immigration enforcement and make certain that resources are not spent pursuing the removal of low priority circumstances involving productive young people."
To be eligible for the new enforcement guidelines, a person must have come to the United States underneath 16 years old and have resided in the nation for at least 5 years. They have to be in school or have graduated from high school or be honorably discharged from the U.S. military. They need to also be cost-free of convictions of felony or significant misdemeanor offenses.
A prime Republican in Congress speedily attacked the new policy. Residence Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith referred to as Obama's decision a "breach of faith" that he said will have "horrible consequences" for unemployed Americans searching for jobs.
HOT POLITICAL Situation.
Most of the illegal immigrants in the United States are Hispanics. Immigration is a large situation for Hispanics, an essential voting bloc in the United States that could support establish who wins the election amongst Obama, a Democrat, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who like several other Republicans has taken a tough line on illegal immigration.
Obama supports immigration reform but has been unable to obtain bipartisan help in Congress for a law that would address the problem.
Legislation known as the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act passed the House of Representatives in 2010, but fell a handful of votes short in the Senate.
A much more limited version of the Democratic legislation is getting created by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who is keeping the Romney campaign informed, according to congressional aides.
Napolitano said the administration's new stance was meant to produce a much more effective and productive immigration policy.
The Obama administration's move came right after a long push by immigration advocacy groups for action and following numerous attempts to pass legislation sputtered in the deeply divided Congress. Those groups would nonetheless like to see Congress move on legislation that has a a lot more permanent impact.
Cheryl Little, executive director of the Miami-based Americans for Immigrant Justice, said the administration's decision "throws 'Dreamers' a life line" till a long-term policy can be worked out for this group of men and women living in the United States.
Republican lawmaker Smith, nonetheless, mentioned, "President Obama's amnesty only advantages illegal immigrants, not Americans, and is a magnet for fraud. A lot of illegal immigrants will falsely claim they came right here as young children and the federal government has no way to examine whether their claims are correct."
"And as soon as these illegal immigrants are granted deferred action, they can then apply for a perform permit, which the administration routinely grants 90 percent of the time," added Smith, whose panel oversees immigration legislation and he has been on record opposing restricted measures introduced in Congress.
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering a challenge to Arizona's immigration laws targeting men and women living and working in the state illegally, with a ruling expected as early as next week.
Supporters of the Arizona crackdown, which has been replicated in other states, say it was necessary because Obama has failed to secure the border with Mexico. Critics say it could lead to ethnic and racial profiling of Hispanics, and government lawyers argue it interferes with federal powers on immigration.