A new Homeland Security rule will allow many illegal immigrants with no
criminal records who were facing potential deportation the option to
stay in the U.S. and apply for work permits. However, as stated by Janet
Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, earlier this
week, this new policy is, by no means, a free pass to citizenship.
Instead, Napolitano says, the new rules are ways to clarify the
deportation process for illegal immigrants with criminal records or who
otherwise pose a threat.
“They’re very common sense and they’re meant to say that as we deal with
deportations and removals we have got to focus on those who are highest
priorities,” said Napolitano. These highest priority individuals,
according to Napolitano, are repeat violators and convicted criminals.
Under the new policy change, roughly 300,000 pending deportation cases
will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Napolitano asserts that this
is not a major policy change; instead, it is simply a policy
clarification.
