Photo of President Obama by Flickr user lednichenkoolga.
On Friday, June 15, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum intended to change the course of immigration.
The memorandum demands that Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol officials “exercise prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to the United States as children.”
In other words, immigrants who arrived in the US as children and have come to know it as their only home will now be categorized as a “low priority case” because they have generally lacked any unlawful intent. As such, they will likely not be deported if they meet the following criteria:
• They arrived in the US prior to age 16;
• They have continuously resided in the US for a minimum of five years;
• They are currently in school, have already graduated high school or have obtained a GED or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or US Armed Forces;
• They have never been convicted of a felony offense, convicted of misdemeanor offense(s) or are otherwise perceived as a threat to national security or public safety;
• They are not above the age of thirty.
According to the ACLU, the Department of Homeland Security can change its internal regulations and in order to determine how to enforce the nation’s immigration laws. This particular change would allow qualifying immigrants to apply for a work permit and begin their citizenship process.
“Today, the administration has provided these young adults the opportunity to pursue the American Dream,” Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, said in a statement.
“For years,” she continued, “DREAMers have lived with the constant nightmare that they will be deported from the only home they’ve ever known. Today, that nightmare has come to an end, at least temporarily.”
But some issues still remain, like the fact that the DREAM Act ― which would provide a path to citizenship for immigrants who arrived in the US as children and have graduated high school ― has yet to be passed.
“The [Obama] administration cannot provide these youth with a path to U.S. citizenship,” said Joanne Lin, legislative counsel for the ACLU. “The ACLU calls upon all members of Congress to pass the DREAM Act ….”
ACLU officials say this change in immigration law coincides with the 30th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, Plyer v. Doe, in which the high court made clear that all children, regardless of their immigration status, must be welcomed in the nation’s public K-12 schools.
Annie Lane
Latest posts by Annie Lane (see all)
- Rapist Brock Turner’s Appeal Denied, Victim’s Statement Still Speaks Powerful Truth About Sexual Assault - August 16, 2018
- Happy Fourth of July, I Guess - July 4, 2018
- Black Alliance for Just Immigration | Black History Month - February 28, 2018
Great article Annie! Thanks so much for writing about Obama’s executive order which will give “Dreamers” a two year (plus additional two years) deprieve from possible deportation.
Since this executive order provides for discretion on the part of Homeland Security as they choose to enforce or no enforce immigration laws, some “Dreamers” are concerned about coming forward to take advantage of this opportunity.
It’s really a tough call… So personal… But, the executive order does provide some relief for those people under thirty who were brought to the United States as children.
My question is, after a possible four years of avoiding deportation, what are the chances that the person, now known to Homeland Security, can still stay in this country?
God forbid that this “registration” for a potential twice two year reprieve becomes a “deportation list” four years from now.
Christine
I was disappointed that the president didn’t answer any questions at the end of his talk. I think it would have been the right thing to do, because he schooled a reporter on the appropriate time for questions.
Twice he said it was the right thing to do for the American people. I think we should consider what is the right thing to do for the Dreamers themselves. The current choices stink. Under 30 years old? Put on this uniform, and report to the battlefield. Over 30 years old? Put on these coveralls, and report to the tomatoe field.
I don’t think the Dreamers should have to choose between college or military service. I would give them only one choice, and that would be a minimum of 2 years of college followed by 2 years of service in a Peace Corps type of program. Someday these citizens of the Republic of Limbo may want to return to Mexico as business people or health care workers, etc. Or they may choose to live in both worlds in a border town. Sending our Dreamers to the battlefield (or the tomatoe field) is not the right thing to do for the Mexican people. And eventually it won’t be the right thing to do for the American people.
Your headline is telling. There is no law. Laws come from the House and Senate and then MAYBE a president signs them into laws.
I’m sick and tired of the dictator in chief using the exec. order to be the dicatator in the whitehouse.
Do they even teach kids the Constitution in America anymore?? I think not.