Last Friday, President Obama announced a new policy that would remove
the threat of deportation for young people in the United States who are
low enforcement priorities. According to President Obama, “over the next
few months, eligible individuals who do not present a risk to national
security or public safety will be able to request temporary relief from
deportation proceedings and apply for work authorization.”
The executive order the President referred to guides the Department of
Homeland Security to cease the deportation of illegal immigrants who
entered the U.S. before the age of 16, have lived in the U.S. for at
least five years, and are either enrolled in high school, have high
school diplomas or are military veterans in good standing. These
immigrants must also be under the age of 30 and not have criminal
records.
The order, which is similar to the DREAM Act, will allow eligible
participants to legally work in the U.S. and obtain driver’s licenses.
It lift the threat of deportation for roughly 800,000 illegal
immigrants.
