By Liz Goodwin | The Ticket
Student protesting outside an Obama campaign office. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)
The White House will halt the deportation of as many as 800,000 young illegal immigrants and in some cases give them work permits, in a sweeping new initiative announced by the Department of Homeland Security.
People under 30 who entered the country illegaly or overstayed their visas when they were under the age of 16 will be immune from deportation if they have not committed a significant misdemeanor or felony and have graduated from a U.S. high school or joined the military. They can apply for a renewable two-year work permit that won't provide a path to citizenship but will allow them to work legally in the country.
"Our nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner,"
Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement. "But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language. Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here."
President Obama will address the change in a speech at 1:15 pm.
Young people who were brought into the country illegally or overstayed their visas as children are commonly referred to as "Dreamers," referencing the title of a decade-old bill that would have given them legal status if they joined the military or attended college. The Dream Act passed the House two years ago, but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate. Opponents of the bill have argued that it would encourage more people to enter the country illegally, while supporters say it helps people who were brought up as Americans and whose lack of status is not their own fault become full members of society.
President Obama has faced criticism from the crucial Hispanic electorate for ramping up deportations under his tenure and for failing to deliver on his campaign promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform within his first year in office. Several times in the past year, Obama has told Hispanic audiences who asked him why he did not issue an executive order halting deportations of some classes of immigrants that such a move would be legally impossible. It's unclear what made him change his mind.
"We've been hearing all sorts of things from the White House, that it's not legally possible, that it's not politically possible," said Erika Andiola, a 25-year-old Arizona-based Dreamer and advocate who has met with administration officials. "I can't even believe it. We've been working for this for so long."
The move may generate enthusiasm among many Latinos: 85 percent of registered Latino voters said in a Latino Decisions poll that they support the Dream Act. The president enjoys a strong lead among Hispanic voters over Mitt Romney, but a lack of enthusiasm among these voters could mean they stay home on Election Day in swing states like Nevada, Colorado and Florida.
MTW- Obama is halting these deportations, because he is receiving criticism? Bull Shit. He needs the Latino vote, and is kissing their asses. He does not care about you! How can any of you want to keep this low-life person as our President? It is the job of the Government to deport illegal aliens. If you want to be an American Citizens, do it the legal way. I do not hate illegals, I am simply tired of seeing my Country going downhill to carry their tax burden. So, let me see if I understand this. He is not doing his job, so he can get to not do his job for another 4 years? By the way, this is also criticism. Nothing will be done about me, he can never bribe my vote out of me. Nobama-Nobiden in 2012!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
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