WASHINGTON. - President Obama announced a new policy Friday that will stop deporting illegal immigrants who came to America as children.
According to the policy, illegal immigrants who arrived to the States before they turned 16 and are currently under 30 will not be deported. These people will also receive work-permits. The policy requires that the person in concern does not have a criminal record, possesses a high school diploma or has served in the military. The person had to be residing in the country for five continuous years. The policy does not grant citizenship, but just gives them legal status.
The announcement was made through the Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, who said in a statement: "Our nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner... But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to individual circumstances in each case," as reported by MSNBC News.
The President is scheduled to make a formal announcement of the policy in the White House this afternoon.
The policy is said to cover over 800,000 undocumented immigrants according to the New York Times. The policy bears a striking resemblance to some key facets of the Dream Act that has failed to pass due to G.O.P. opposition. As the Washington Post puts it, "Obama leadfrogs GOP DREAM ACT." This policy too will certainly garner huge opposition from the republican side.
The policy comes at an interesting time and is expected to have a profound impact on the 2012 Obama re-election campaign, especially with the immigrant constituents - particularly the Hispanic demography.
