President Barack Obama announced Friday his administration will stop deporting certain young people who are illegal immigrants in the United States.
The new policy will take effect immediately and would allow as many as 800,000 immigrants living illegally in America to remain without the threat or fear of being deported.
In a statement from the Rose Garden, Obama said the measure would “lift the shadow of deportation” from immigrants, some of who have made extraordinary contributions” by “serving in our military and protecting our freedom.”
“That we would treat them as expendable makes no sense,” Obama said. “They study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods … they pledge allegiance to our flag, they are Americans in their hearts and minds … and in every single way but one: on paper.”
Certain criteria would have to be met if individuals are to be granted this deferred action, which would be determined on a case-by-case basis. The policy change will apply to those who came to the United States before they were 16 and who are under 30 years of age if they have lived in the U.S. for five years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S. high school or served in the military.
A statement from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announcing the new policy stated that, deferred action requests woulb be decided on a case-by-case basis and there is no assurance that all such requests will be granted. The memo added that, the “use of prosecutorial discretion confers no substantive right, immigration status, or pathway to citizenship. Only the Congress, acting through its legislative authority, can confer these rights.”
Obama’s change in immigration policy, or June surprise, while good news for Latinos, is certain to meet with outrage from Republicans, as he woos Hispanic voters in battleground states such as Florida, Nevada and New Mexico.
