The Obama administration will stop deporting, and begin giving work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. The election-year initiative addresses a top priority of a growing Latino electorate that has opposed administration deportation policies.
The administration's decision could affect as many as 800,000 immigrants.
In a statement this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, said “Our nation’s immigration laws... are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language."
Illegal immigrants will avoid deportation and be eligible for work permits if they arrived in the U.S. before age 16, are younger than 30, have been in the country for at least five continuous years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S. high school or earned a GED, or served in the military.
The president will deliver remarks about the new policy in the Rose Garden at 1 p.m. this afternoon.
The policy change bypasses Congress and partially achieves the goals of the so-called DREAM Act, a long-sought but never enacted plan to establish a path toward citizenship for young people who came to the United States illegally but who have attended college or served in the military. Republicans blocked the DREAM Act in 2010.
Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican and vice chairman of the House Immigration subcommittee, told Fox Latino Thursday that he would not support any of the versions of the Dream Act currently being batted around, including one by Rep. David Rivera and Sen. Marco Rubio, both Florida Republicans.
An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll last month found President Obama leading Mitt Romney among Hispanic voters 61 percent to 27 percent. But the Obama administration's deportation policies have come under fire. In 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a record 396,906 people.
Both candidates are expected to head to Florida next week to address the National Association of Latino Elected Officials at a conference in Orlando. The Obama administration's new policy has the same goals as the limited version of the DREAM Act proposed by Sen. Rubio, which stops short of offering young illegal immigrants citizenship, but gives them a type of legal status. Romney said he was considering the proposal from Rubio.
This week, TIME Magazine featured young illegal immigrants in its cover story. Former Washington Post reporter Jose Antonio Vargas, who was brought to the U.S. illegally by his aunt when he was 12, was featured with other immigrants who have publicly shared their story about their lack of legal residency status.
According to Napolitano, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigrations Custom Enforcement are expected to begin implementation of the application processes within 60 days. Individuals who are already in deportation proceedings but have already been identified as being eligible will be offered deferred action for a period of two years.
Update 11:20 a.m. ET: On a DHS press conference call, reporters quizzed DHS officials on whether the new policy would actually encourage illegal immigrants to step out of the shadows. Coming forward could be seen by some illegal immigrants as a risk, particularly under a different president who might have a change in approach in dealing with the problem of illegal immigration.
"We are encouraging people to take advantage of deferred action... and apply separately for work authorizations, but people can make their own decisions whether their circumstances warrant the application," a DHS spokesperson said, adding that the ability to legally apply for a job and obtain a driver's license will likely be incentives.
While deferred action will give temporary relief to individuals—and while those eligible will have paperwork for two years at a time, subject to renewal—Congress still has to act on a permanent solution, DHS officials said.
Undocumented immigrants under the age of 16 will not be eligible for the waiver but will not be subject to deportation.
Officials also said the policy will enable them to focus resources on illegal immigrants who are public safety and national security risks.
Alicia A. Caldwell of the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
This will help a lot of families, about time!!
This is merely the Prez pandering to the Hispanic voters. His timing of this great announcement is suspect.
Yeah it's about time. A lot of these folks don't even speak Spanish.
Finally common sense prevails! It is not these kids fault their parents brought them here.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!!
An election year, 180 degree flip-flop from the Panderer-In-Chief
As usual, Obama ignores the law for his own self-interests and all his mindless minions swoon and grant him a pass.
What gives a single man the right to nullify U.S. law, especially against the wishes of the citizens the laws were meant to protect?
This act will open the floodgates like never before: Got kids under 16? Sneak them into America for free schooling.
Treason, plain and simple.
You can gaurantee voting rights are next on the Democrat agenda.
Way to screw our poor and especially the black community.
What a piece of crap!
Let the protest begin!
flowerchild-939285....Well, it is the "pandering season" and there will be a lot more by both sides, so don't be so shocked !
Leave it to Republicans to see children as the enemy.
Treason? Haha....yeah...totally.
Dear Obama and Holder,
Thanks for violating American law. You both are scum
regards,
Registered American Voter - Born in the U.S.A.
Unsane: You are correct, it is not "these kids fault their parents brought them here." Nor is it ours as US citizens. How does institutionalizing not being deported for being here illegally discourage others from coming?
Consider it this way: A person robs a bank and kills a teller. The person sitting in the getaway car (the "kids") had no idea this was going to happen but faces the same consequence as the person who pulled the trigger (the parents). What is the difference relative to discouraging bad acts? This is a decision to be made by Congress, not by presidential fiat.
Are we or are we not a nation of laws?
I'm surprised he didnt try to slide this through Reconciliation. I guess His Highness doesnt even want to bother with that annoying Checks and Balances anymore.
Wow trolls are out early this morning. This is still a good thing for kids that had no choice . Election year or not his stance has not changed and the GOP candidate changes with the wind!!
If Obama thinks this is a clever maneuver to capture the Hispanic vote, he’d better think again. It’s more likely to motivate some extremists to such a point, that he will never even see election day.
Our high unemployment rates mean nothing to this president. He is just looking for the Latino vote. What a moron.
Go to your black churches, talk to them.
This man is screwing the very people that gave him 97% of their vote!
Obama needs to be removed from the White House at gunpoint for treason and for willfully ignoring the law. This piece of crap is NOT a dictator, no matter how much you Obama tit-suckers want him to be.
Yes, children of color are evil to the white Amerian voter. boo-hoo wah-wah. I have no problem with this decision so I guess he isn't going against all voters. Also, I'm sure saying that will grant me the title of Obama minion even though I hate our two parties and feel with need to either break up the current parties or add new ones to stop the damn two-way this or that mentality of American politics
... no they don't.
Americans can't find jobs now we have to compete with illegals. Thanks Prez!!!
Pathetic, absolutely pathetic! BUT not the least bit surprising. This could backfire though, for the handful of added votes Odumbo gets from the Hispanics, he may lose more from those who are sick and tired of this bozo and his vote pandering, divisive ways. Odumbo is the antithesis of a leader.
Lets buy some more votes.....................
And no its not the kids fault......... But we do have a Constitution. Its the LAW people. Once you start ignore one law you ignore the others.........
Another thing, they aren't kids anymore......the ones getting the work visas. So if they REALLY cared, why haven't they started the citizenship program before now?
Monkey, this hurts our legal children of color more than anyone else.
OBAMA MUST BE VOTED OUT IN NOVEMBER! If he were to win re-election, his second term would be a dictatorship this country may never recover from.
Last month it was the gay vote he wanted, now with amnesty he wants the Latino vote ... who/what is next?
Pandering fool, but that is the nature of a process that has become little more than a popularity contest. Just make certain you get plenty of "face time" and get some solid "sound bites" in play.
"graduated from a U.S. high school or earned a GED". Ah, how did they get this if they were illegal in the first place? More of our tax dollars paid to illegals!!! Take back our country! Any body but Obama!!
Screw November, impeach the traitorous bastard!
norm903....problem is that there are 12 million + in the getaway car and you only have room for two in the back of the police car and can only afford to pay for jail for 4.
This is called facing reality. We do not have the ability or the funds to deport them all, so we are going to concentrate on those with criminal records. We are deporting more right now than at any time in history and still not making a dent. Time to face reality.
OMG bdjb,
Did you know Foreigners... NON-CITIZENS can even get... *gasp* college degrees and *gulp* serve in the military?
I know it's horrifying.
"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive
treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known
and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the
gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the
very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he
speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their
arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men.
He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to
undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can
no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague."
Marcus Tullius Cicero
"It's about time?" Give me a break...what about the people who are trying to come here legally?
That's it, Obama. I'm a lifelong Democrat, and you just lost my vote
I am tired of Obama going around Congress and ignoring the Constitution. It's past time for him to go!!!
Who pays for the college? (Mostly)...taxpayers.
This move is a violation of the immigration laws that have been on the books for decades!!! This will not stand.....it is a gross abuse of power, just as most of the garbage this man and his administration have forced upon the American people for 3.5 years now. Should we do something about the immigration problem? Sure.....but THIS is not it!! This is a horrifically STUPID maneauver on the part of this administration!! It has been done in typical liberal-progressive, knee jerk, only acting out of emotion-type action......and its done without any real thought about the consequences......as most progressive liberals do. This is a mockery of, and an abuse of the Office of the President of the United States!! This is worse than any of the same kind of garbage Bush 43 pulled!! Bush was wrong to abuse the powers of offfice like this, and now Obama is taking that mistake to the next level. Progressives are killing this nation, one emotionally driven decision after another, giving ZERO thought to any of the consequences!! This nation should be ashamed!!!
Well it is no surprise that Obama is an evil man bent on bringing America to its knees - this sort of thing has been foretold if you believe in that stuff - The man does not care one wit for the constitution or the laws of this country and has no qualms about breaking them (obviously). It will be a sad day if he is re-elected
Work permits aren't much good without jobs.
Seriously? How does this help any American? This shows how twisted his thinking is. He is saying its OK to break the law. Next he will do everything in his power to enable illegals to vote (illegally) such as block laws to require government issued ID cards. Oh wait Holder is already doing that...
Obama is a polarizing, power hungry, manipulative, desperate man (notice I didn't use the term leader)...
How about we start with stopping the "downloading" of babies by illegals, by altering who can become an "automatic" citizen. There is constant abuse of this rule. I am not opposed to immigration, but I am opposed to the absolute abuse by illegals flooding our health care systems all across the Southwest of this country, helping bankrupt these states.
Nice political move Obama, your a true dirt-bag politician.
Bravo Mr. President, excellent leadership skills. Whichever one's qualify under those circumstances, welcome to America!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN....2012!!!!
He's doing nothing more than the lying Romney, along with his followers (YOU) are doing, telling all sorts of lies about the President.
OBAMA/BIDEN....2012!!!!
journal journal..............................
That reminds me of the story about the redneck couple who had 9 kids. They went to the doctor to get birth control and he asked them why they waited until they already had nine kids. They replied that they had heard that one out of every ten babies born in the US was Hispanic and they could not take the chance of having a Hispanic baby because they did not even speak the language !
John-2032532.............how is this a flip flop ? It follows pretty much what he has said he wanted to do all along. Whether you or I like it or not is a different matter and whether it is good for America is a different matter, but is is in no way a flip flop, it is in fact quite consistant.
Those in favor of this have never suffered because of the influx of illegal aliens in this country. Let's see how in favor of illegal's rights you are when it's your identity that's been stolen and sold to some hard working Mexican who uses it to buy a house and car and run up several credit cards so they can send all the money they earned back to their families in Mexico. They then move on to another identity leaving the collectors to hound you day and night while you try in vain to explain to them that you never lived in Arizona let alone purchased a pick-up truck down there.
They say this will be granted to those with no criminal history... but their entire existance in this country is criminal. They lie on government forms every day. They lie to their employers everyday. They steal IDs and SSNs from legal citizens everyday. They steal from our schools, our hospitals, our communities every day they are here. They should be deported, though I realize that given the enormity of the problem that is difficult to do. So failing that, we should make life so difficult for them while they are here that they choose to return to Mexico on their own. Deny them education, deny them healthcare, deny them shelter... eventually they will decide it's better for them in the homeland or die. I'm fine with either outcome.
This guy Obama is surely the worst POTUS EVER!!. Legal citizens will so be in the minority. We don't have anybody representing us in this illegal immigration fight. Neither Dems. or Repubs. have the balls to enforce the Consititution of this country so what good is it anymore?
Eisenhower was the last POTUS that enforced illegal immigration laws and we were a better nation for it. Illegals have put a lot of good men out of work. People have lost their homes and Obama tries to buy people off with a lousy cheap loan. We will never be the same nation anymore if this is allowed to stand.
Do we have to take to the streets to get our country back and out of the hands of these dumb politicians?
Last year it was the year of the bailouts. This year is the year of the great giveaways. We are screwed if Obama wins another 4 years and we are screwed if Romney wins but doesn't deliver for the middle class.
Those pots who call the kettle black know no other color.
In approving this policy change Mr Obama has given all unemployed Americans and legal immigrants the finger while chanting "Viva La Raza"
My house values went up, my 401k is kicking, my extended family has jobs, and the unemployment where I live dropped to 6% . I am way better off then I was 4 yrs ago!
dont Hate!!
Obama/Biden 2012 keep it going!!
Pissedoffperson - where do you live? Toronto?
OHIO!!
If the hypocrite republicans posting here would take time to read, this is actually called the "Dream Act," a piece of BIPARTISAN legislation the hypocrite republicans keep reneging on, even though they say they are for it...kind of "flip-flopping" republicans! LOL
Here hypocrites, read all about it:
THE DREAM ACT IS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
http://www.nilc.org/dreamsummary.html
OBAMA/BIDEN....2012!!!!
Whether he does this for the vote, or not, this is wrong. The POTUS took an oath to uphold the LAWS of this country, not circumvent them with policy.
This amounts to an edict as would have been expected from magistocracy, not democracy. I hope The House acts on this quickly.
This also prefaces the concept and realization that any country in the world can now send or bring thier children under the age of 16 to become a burdon on tax paying citizens of this country.
Anyone have an idea of how many countries around the world have parents who would rather see thier children living in the USA? Or for that matter, working those American jobs to send money back to thier families left in the country of origin?
Somehow I don't see how they set the number at a mere 800,000. This is a meal ticket to the whole of the planet.
I will have to hear the whole story in his broadcast, and read more on what this resolution will entail, though from what I have read so far it is plain scary.
What the h&ll was he thinking?
Well this is clear pandering and doesn't surprise, but both sides do it so nobody can say anything either way to that effect.
That aside, I think this is great (be nice if it was done at another time to avoid the pandering tag but at least it is happening) and I do think other parts of the government should be involved but still. As long as they meet those requirements, and I'm guessing most speak English, if not then that needs to be another requirement, get them the visa's then get them on their way to be American citizens. In the process we can take 800,000 of the lazy welfare leeches that don't meet those requirements but where just lucky to be born here and ship them back to Mexico.
This is something that is long time coming but shouldn't just stand alone, there are other actions/reforms needed regarding immigration, especially if this is going to happen.
-First off the 14th amendment needs to be amended and made clear so that this issue of "anchor" babies is solved and cannot happen anymore. One parent must be legal citizen, not just born here. Simple.
-Then I think there should be another group, meeting similar requirements as these kids do, that can apply for a work visa or citizenship, pay a small fine/fee and be allowed to become citizens, though the number needs to be controlled and limited- I'm saying a couple million or so, not 10 of the 13-15 million illegals. Like as been tossed around.
- Following that we need a revised work Visa program, starting off it can have only so many applications - another 3-4 million,then adjust from there. Part of their pay goes back to government like everyone else (though a revised tax code would greatly help all of this but that is for another article).
-Then finally we start actually enforcing the laws, by deporting the illegals, then fining and jailing business owners that offend. Also putting troops on the border for the time being. If repeats become a major problem setup detention camps and hold them for 6months to a year. Camps would be strictly monitored for human rights reasons but intent would be as a deterant. Can't work, then families don't get money. And I'm talking not the whole family stays if they come, just the father, rest go back. Not trying to be heartless or cold just deter people from making the illegal entry. Doesn't work then try something else.
There are other things we could probably do as well but I think this would a good start and it is time to put these into action. The main thing is I think it tries to at least meet in the middle and help pave the way for other positive actions but owns up to that fact people are here illegally and that some groups, as hard as it is, need to admit that and try to work together towards something that is reasonable but doesn't cause major negatives for those here legally either.
pissedoffperson is a troll. Ignore him
As a legal immagrant it irrates me that illegals are given so many handouts. Why did I wait for hours in line, pay all the required fees, wait for years and jump through all those hoops if I could have just lived here illegally. Nothing good comes easy. Becoming an American shouldn't just be taken for granted; to give access away so easily cheapens this great land!!
I have been on the phone.
The black community is PISSED!
lolololololololol
Thank you, Xina, for summing up exactly how the majority feel about illegal aliens in the United States. They are criminals, pure and simple.
However, thanks to this president and the actions (or lack) of many others before him, they now feel ENTITLED to be here
Who says crime doesn't pay?
Viva La Raza!
Man, I really outta get in this government business... They get to make the rules however they want- screw what the people actually want!
Anyway, give it another 20-30 years and we'll be in the exact same situation, for amnesty round 3!
If the hypocrite republicans posting here would take time to read, this is actually called the "Dream Act," a piece of BIPARTISAN legislation the hypocrite republicans keep reneging on, even though they say they are for it...kind of "flip-flopping" republicans! LOL
Here hypocrites, read all about it:
THE DREAM ACT IS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
moshuluu, OH that makes a big difference, its bipartisan, I mean BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION. I don't know whee to begin. But here I go anyway. 1. If it were truely supported by both parties (BIPARTISAN), the dream act would be law already. 2. Both parties have passes crappy laws, either independently(Obamacare), or working together. The Dream Act is a CRAPPY LAW. 3. I would vigorously oppose this law if it were 100% the product of republicans in congress.
The bottom line is I don't care who makes crappy laws and since the Dream Act is a CRAPPY LAW, I oppose it.
Pissedoffperson is a numbnut. He is so busy that he has been posting all day and it is FRIDAY. The only time he isn't on his puter is when he is helping the little woman do food shopping with guvmint food stamps.
His house values went up like he ha a lot invested in real estate. LOL One of the major reasons for Ohio having a good highway system so people can get the hell out of that State. Stop pissedofperson why a name like that if things are so good for you?
Hey Pissedoffpersom, how much was hamburger this week at your supermarket? LOL
FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
will he bought your VOTE
Indeed. Let the impeachment proceedings begin.
This is GREAT! If this doesn't get out the vote in Ohio, Pennsylvania and paint them solid red, don't know what will.
What????
I will vote Obama because I trust Romney even less
WORK permits????? Don't you need to hive a vibrant economy and jobs first?
@ STexan:
didn't think about that but you're SPOT on. What about the legal workers here? So now we are added 800,000 more competitors in the job market.
Impeachment for what? Sorry but you have to break a law. Now, willfully lying to the American public to sell a war? That's impeachable. But that's a right winger, so it's OK. I'm not a huge Obama fan, as a president. I will vote for him over Romney, but... You guys need to get real. You'll probably have the next presidency. Good luck. I hope he does well. I believe he will continue to sell the country to big business and big money.
Monkeynucleosis, if you don't see the danger in a president who picks and chooses which of our laws he's going to uphold, then your beyond saving and are HOPELESSLY retarded.
Rick, picking and choosing what laws will be upheld IS breaking the law. That makes him nothing more than a DICTATOR.
So what about the working citizen???? So millions of Americans are without jobs and he increases the workforce with foreigners????
temp...., i agree. Odumbo just handed Wisconsin to Romney, if it already wasn't.
Immigrants will do work that enough Americans will not do. You are from Texas, you know that. Last year at harvest time the crops could not be brought in fast enough and a lot was lostl These kids will get work permits and do the hard work no one else will do. Like it not, they are a vital part of our economy.
LookingForwardtotheFuture....So I guess you are under the impression that they are not already in the job market ? Did you think they were not already here and taking jobs for cash and not paying taxes ? This is a way to make responsible people find their way onto the tax rolls. They are already here ( the ones in question came in during the LAST administration ), we do not have the funds or manpower to deport them, so this gives them a path to becomming tax paying residents.
@leico-checo,
Baloney, I'm Hispanic and I've known plenty of teens in this group quite well, and I've yet to see one wanting to work the jobs Americans don't want. You don't get a high school or college degrees to pick fruit!
I'm sure you'll find some exceptions, but this really increases the competition citizens will face in getting jobs; it hurts young Americans, black Americans, and even legal Hispanics. It's truly unfortunate if people don't see how this will hurt the working class.
MM58...: You are correct in your assertion that there are too many illegal aliens to round them all up at one time. However, that does not negate the law. Focusing on the criminals yet at the same time not ignoring those discovered along the way is a better way to go.
We will never get ahead unless people are discouraged from coming in illegally in the first place, and the president's plan encourages illegal aliens to enter the US. It is a backwards policy.
@MM-584706 I very highly doubt that all 800,000 are employed. The rate of employment the age range specified is quite high from my understanding.
Trying to justify breaking the law by stating "they can now pay taxes" is crap. Majority of illegals do pay taxes because most businesses will not hire them unless they have a social security card (fake by the way).
I don't care how you spin it........its dead wrong..........I wasn't going to vote this year..........now I'm voting for Romney verses a law breaker.
It is our job to get the black community to protest this!
I am calling all my friends as we speak and I am meeting with the churches.
We can't just look like a bunch of angry white people, this hurts our black community more than any other group!
@ beto_lara: Very correct!!! They have to have GED, HD, or college to get a work permit.
So like I said MM-584706 they are going to be another 800,000 workers to the job pool for REAL jobs, not fruit pickers like their parents were. So thanks for getting my son kicked to the curb by 800,000 illegals.
Exactly...just like that illegal alien high school valedictorian in Miami who is now the poster child for Rubio's Dream Act; you think she is going to "do the jobs Americans won't do"? LOL
Hey...if Romney picks Rubio as his VP running mate - who are American citizens supposed to vote for?
...we're screwed, folks...and so are our children
<begin hateful comment trolling now>
Your timing is impeccable.
It is hateful to not give a crap about our citizens!
They're not our citizens. They're "illegals."
That is my point. Not enforcing our immigration laws kills our citizens trying to make a living.
I think he meant it's hateful for Obama to not give a crap about REAL citizens. At least I hope they do.
lol I love a good circular firing squad.
They are not our citizens.
On the bright side this pandering to an illegal community will cost obama the election if he hasn't already lost it.
This is not a kingdom or a dictatorship. No president of the United States of America can single-handedly undo legal precedent. So go for it, it will be challenged in court by the end of next week the same way so many other of obama's ruling by executive fiat orders are, and will never be enacted.
I think by "not giving a crap about our citizens" the comment WAS about OUR citizens and them having STILL MORE unemployed to compete with in their job search, many of whom aren't here legally in the first place. It's a double whammy attack on our own lawful, productive citizens and makes zero sense.
Journal, screw you. When you have children that can't earn a living because we do not enforce the laws that protect the worker, you know who is screwing them.
I won't have children that blame others for their personal problems. Thanks.
Elitist a-holes that think people who sweat for a living do not need to make a livable wage. You are gross humans!
It is hateful to criminalize children for the acts of their parents.
I know several kids here in S.TX who came here as tiny children, have grown up in American communities, gone to school here and are completely as American as any of you "I'm natural born so therefore I'm better" idiots. These kids did not even know that they were "illegal".
They worked from the time they were old enough, sometimes at two or three jobs that believe me, their Anglo counterparts would have deemed demeaning. These kids graduate from high school with honors and then when they are ready to go out into the "real" world, they find that they are criminals. It is a terrifying experience to say the least.
In the small communities here I have seen neighbors (of all races and ethnic backgrounds and citizenship) come together to protect these children and make sure that they get to college and stay off the ICE radar.
The president is doing what should have been done a long time ago. Did you know that we had/have thousands of children incarcerated in detention centers in this country because they were caught being here illegally? Children, some as young as eight years old in jail just for existing someplace that man's law says they shouldn't. Once caught the idea is to deport them back to their country of origin, (if they even know where they came from) a place they do not know, nor do they have any family or resources once repatriated. That is cruel and unusual punishment no matter how you slice it.
Personally, I am not very happy with Obama for a lot of reasons, this is not one of them. This decision shows compassion and an understanding that children are our future, no matter where they came from. And for those of you trying to manipulate the racial and socio-economic divide by saying that black people and Hispanic American citizens should be appalled by this act because somehow you see that this will take jobs away from them or some other equally idiotic reasoning you have conjured up...you should be ashamed.
Please stop and think about your reasoning for a moment...I'll wait...OK, now tell me how those young men and women who have served in our military, offering up their lives for this country, who were heroes at the time, suddenly become criminals because you don't like the manner of their being here to serve.
sounds like some of u have some serious personal self-esteem/competance issues if u feel like u cant compete in the workforce with ..... 16 year olds...
You people simply don't get it. Our laws aren't there just to "pick and choose" which ones we want to follow. It's supposed to be that NO ONE is above the law but obviously that's something that you and our piece of crap called a president disagree with.
You elitist clueless jerks. Wages trickle up. I am fine but my fellow citizens that work with their hands, backs and sweat can't earn a living.
It is gross that you think they should not be allowed.
Also, wages trickle up, enforcing our immigration laws helps every worker.
MandatedLiberalIdea
No law breakers are getting work permits under this announcement. It says clearly that they have to be law abiding people to be eligible for the work permits
Try again.
So the word "illegal" means what?
Kathy, their parents should have thought about that BEFORE they came here with children who could be negatively affected by their actions.
Kate, this would apply to illegals from 16 to 30 years of age. Please re-read the article.
My children fall into the age range mentioned here. My son just graduated from college over a month ago, and he hasn't been able to find a job yet. This could potentially affect his job search, as he could be competing with illegals who have obtained a work permit, as well as a college degree. See how this affects us yet?
In this case, it doesn't mean anything. You can't prosecute these people because they didn't do anything wrong.
Remember; You have to actually be guilty of doing something. When a child is brought over and lives here with his parents, he's not breaking the law. Therefore, he's not really illegal, but in an odd sort of legal limbo.
This announcement helps alleviate that tho it doesn't really solve the problem.
@Kathy, we don't owe them anything. It's not the fault of American citizens that they're parents chose to enter the United States illegally. They've benefit a lot by being here illegally, now they should get in line with the abiding citizens from other countries.
My loyalty is to my fellow citizens who are hurting. This hurts them more!
Also, if the made just $1 in wages, they broke the law.
This has nothing to do with your loyalty.
The law is supposed to take into account mitigating circumstances in all cases. And it's not like they're being granted citizenship. They're getting a break because they're not bad people and their legal status is not of their own doing.
This is justice. Get over it. Learn some Spanish.
Hablo espanol, y usted?
@lvingbarefoot,
Hablo español, y de igual manera no me gusta.
Horray...I'm so estatic now that we aren't even pretending to cover our borders.
If Obama thinks this is a clever maneuver to capture the Hispanic vote, he’d better think again. It’s more likely to motivate some extremists to such a point, that he will never even see election day.
You are really short sighted.
sounds like a threat, you should watch what you post, you will be under suspicion and thoroughly investigated.
@tammy
Who’s going to head the investigation, Pancho Villa?
If Panco Villa was still alive...Obama would appoint him Head of Border Security
oh...and amnesty and for all of his relatives and free tuition for all his children
Viva La Raza! S**k it, you Gringos!
Deport them. They are here illegally.
lol even after they served in Afghanistan?
Deport them???? Why don't they deport you back to your hick town....
Mashimon.....we don't have the money, staff, courts,legal system etc to deport them. It cannot be done, this just recognizes that fact. We are deporting more now than ever before and still not making a dent. This way we concentrate on those who are criminals, etc. This is just recognizing the fact that there is no way to deport the illegals, so we have "damage control" and try to get the worst out. It is called facing reality.
You need a ssn to join the military.
So its not about right and wrong anymore its just about what we can afford to do and what we can't?
Capitalism as an economic policy is one thing but a government should be there to uphold the law and protect rights outside of our economic model.....
My question is how in God's name did they even get IN the military if they are here ILLEGALLY?!?! Every day more and more of this is showing itself. People want to know why our economy is the way it is... well lets see here. Of course our wonderful government is going over budget by MILLIONS of dollars and that is contributed by the illegal people here that are on our welfare system. A system that was established to help AMERICAN CITIZENS in time of need. Instead we have people coming here and once they are here, our society is pampering them with aide. If they come here by legal means, Im all for helping whoever needs it. Otherwise, they dont deserve our help, our jobs, our healthcare, our schools, or anything else. Make them go back to where they came from!
For an illegal it's no problem to steal an existing SSN, it's how they get a lot of government benefits.
Acutally... you're wrong. :)
Your ancestor came to this land, kill most of the Indians, set up a check point to let others come to this land and then call them legal. What does that make you? Think about this. We are part of a global economy. We need all the help that we can get. If we spent funds on educating someone, we need to get most, if not all of our investment back with interest. The president is doing what is best for this nation, it makes sense. Accept it and move on.
G2020, you're a complete fool. This is NOT what's best for this nation. All it does is take job opportunities away from the legal citizens of this country. Obama considers himself a dictator who can pick and choose what laws he's going to enforce. Accept THIS and we'll all move on in November with a new president.
Seriously man, ever heard of a "Signing Statement"? This is nothing new, they are just working around the problem by going around the existing framework, there is nothign illegal about that.
How about congress gets off their collective ass and actually work toward making a decent immigration policy... or any policy for that matter. Why are we paying these clowns? All this stupid partisan bickering is going to cause the U.S. to self destruct.
Anything for a vote. Five more months and out!
Why do so many Americans vote against their own interests and why do you not understand the personal crisis these young people raised in America are going through. All of our families were once immigrants when it suited the growth of America. It is beyond cruel and inhuman to deport these young people. Shame on you.
The difference is they came through Ellis Island, the legal way.
Its true I come from an immigrant background, but my family came here legally, didn't take handouts from the gov't, didn't have a false sense of entitlement, and they learned the language.
My ancestors came here legally. Why should we allow others to break our laws and then grant them more rights. Let me guess, to get the conservative vote, he will also say that after this amnesty grant, he will focus more and crack down on illegal immigration. Not like we haven't heard that before.
Yes, our families were immigrants, NOT ILLEGALS, they came to this country LEGALLY, and did not ask for handouts, learned the ENGLISH language, and worked and paid their taxes. It is against the law to be here ILLEGALLY, what part of that do you idiots not understand ???
"Why do so many Americans vote against their own interests" - Allowing foreigners to walk into your country and leech off of the taxpayers is in the citizens "self interest"?
"the personal crisis these young people raised in America are going through" - You mean the "crisis" their parents put them in when they chose to break the law?
"All of our families were once immigrants" - This has no bearing on LEGAL immigrants, we also used to screen the people coming in for illness and other conditions that would be harmful and/or make them non-productive members of society.
" It is beyond cruel and inhuman to deport these young people"- It is shameful and stupid to cheapen the accomplishment and respect exhibited by everyone who comes to America legally, and absolutely sickening to foresake an entire generation of youth of American taxpayers who are going to have a hard enough future.
Take your emotional liberal drivel elsewhere.
yes, they are all immigrants. but guess what? they waited, went through the hoops, came here legally and made a positive impact on the society and government by paying taxes, voting etc. the whole being illegal part and breaking the national and federal laws is what sets them apart from us. #deport. we have our own poor people to take care of first. then we can start taking care of illegals.
Yes our families were immigrants, but legal. They actually had to work for their citizenship. They are here illegally and should be deported, if they want to come back there is a process to become a us citizen. Why should we be any different than we used to be, or any different than any other country out there? Why should our schools, healthcare systems, and social services suffer the burden of illegals when they have enough to do with actual citizens?
No, shame on you "forward thinking." Most of the families you are referring to did it legally and have been paying taxes to enjoy the privileges America offers. One who claims to to be progressive thinking should see this further supports illegal actions...contributing to our current financial problems. shame indeed.
"The difference is they came through Ellis Island, the legal way". Really? Please document your statement that your relatives came through Ellis Island. The truth is that the vast majority of immigrants did NOT come through Ellis Island. They just came here and entered the country w/out inspection and did not enter via NY City.
And even those who enter via NYC did not all go through Ellis Island. Those immigrants who came on ships with 1st or 2nd class tickets were allowed to get off in Manhatten; it was only the poor folks who crossed the ocean in the lower class section (steerage) who were kept on board and permitted to get off the boat through Ellis Island.
Most other Northern European immigrants (of which were all of my relatives) entered any number of port of entries from Canada to New Orleans and most with a cursory, at best, "inspection". The classification of "Legal and Illegal" immigration did not begin until the 1920s. The Chinese Exclusion Act and other restrictions on non-Anglo immigration, however, were enacted long before.
One final point... Texas became a part of the United States because of "illegal immigration". Mexico promoted the settlement of US immigrants in its northern territories on the condition that they would profess loyalty to the country. Large numbers of US immigrants began to settle and then declared their opposition to Mexico and their desire to establish the Republic of Texas. Ergo, the Alamo and the Mexican American War which was denounced by Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and countless others. We know the result.
What is never discussed currently is how the companies that left the Midwest and established themselves along the southern border in Mexico attracted large numbers of Mexican citizens to the region for employment. These same multinationals which then closed these plants and moved to SE Asia contributed significantly to the question of illegal immigration. After pulling large populations to the border region, empty plants forces many to look for employment in US since none was now available in Mexico. It is most unfortunate that so many choose to ignore this fact and instead blame those who seek jobs so as to survive.
It seems that for many "illegal immigration" is good or bad, depending on your self-interest. What is lacking, sadly, is wise, thoughtful, and measured discussion about the entire topic of immigration. In the meantime, let's not play our political games and make children pay for our unwillingness to find a way to honor our tradition as a nation of immigrants and at the same time make wise decisions for the future.
BTW All of my relatives were legal (there were no illegal immigrants from northern Europe when they came) and none of them came through Ellis Island.
preach meg!
@ Meg
"In the meantime, let's not play our political games and make children pay for our unwillingness to find a way to honor our tradition as a nation of immigrants and at the same time make wise decisions for the future."
Maybe you should tell that to President Obama!
The second sentence from the article:
"The election-year initiative addresses a top priority of a growing Latino electorate that has opposed administration deportation policies."
By the way, I have the papers to prove it. My grandmother spent the time and money to secure the papers of her parents immigration from Holland which she proudly framed and displayed in her home until the day she died.
By the way over 20 million passed through Ellis Island
Sorry Edward, your numbers are highly inflated.
"From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor" - from the Ellis Island Foundation Website.
And I can quote additional sources stating 20 & 25 million. I've also read the 12 million number at the Ellis Island Foundation website.
And considering the US population in 1924 was 122 million, I'd say a large % came through Ellis Island.
This is why we progressives MUST MUST support him!
Natalie, a TRUE progressive is refusing to stand by and watch the systematic destruction of the American working class.
What part of illegal don't you folks get?
Cassandra, Natalie is probably some rich person who is glad her illegal maid can now be legal.
And these sob stories are undoubtedly written by journalists who know they are in absolutely no danger of being replaced by illegals.
i cant believe ppl still think this way... this is 2012. get with the program... closed-minded, inconsiderate selfish ppl.
Just in time to capture the Latino vote for the election.
Rotten idiots - he is just kissing up to the illegals in order to get their votes - yep - they will vote - that's why we need voter ID which he and Eric Holder are so against - they need the illegal vote to win - this administration makes me so sick - what next? Our poor kids who are out of high school and college for the summer can't get jobs so this idiot opens up the way for 800,000 illegals to get jobs.
Not always by choice.. :(
It is not the illegals vote that they will get but the HISPANIC vote --which is LEGAL and CAN VOTE! In the coming decades you will see the entire south west be democrat --- not because of illegals but because LEGAL HISPANICS--- face it, no matter what you do about illegals this trajectory is happening and people like you will be thrown into the trash bin of history.
All you need to register to vote in my hometown is a utility bill with your name and address on it. If you have that you can vote...Seems like voter registration cards is the only way that the Prez and his capo's will realize that the American people on the whole DO NOT WANT HIM TO DO THIS....
those "poor kids' usually expect more than minimum wage the the ability to still get whatever days off they want while working a summer job. That is why half of them don't get jobs, I've seen it myself. (but just as many will find jobs because they are realistic)
Meeche, your point might be valid about summer jobs if American kids actually wanted to work.....I see so many parents saying "I don't want my kids to work all summer...they work SO hard all year in school." We are raising a bunch of spoiled brats....I say give the jobs to those who are willing to work for a living.
George - "this trajectory is happening and people like you will be thrown into the trash bin of history"
There is only one group despicable enough to support this "trajectory" against their own nation; Democrats.
You are correct though, they are willingly throwing Americans in the trash bin, but we are still here and will return the favor 10-fold.
First, UNDOCUMENTED immigrants cannot vote. 2nd, "poor kids" who are out of high school and college for the summer CAN get jobs--there's many fast food restaurants taking applications for summer jobs, your logic is wrong. Many of the beneficiaries of the DREAM Act are grown folks persuing a profession. They struggle 10x harder than the average U.S. citizen finding opportunities to achieve their goals after given a life they did not choose.
First of all, UNDOCUMENTED immigrants cannot vote. Second, "poor kids who are out of high school and college for the summer" CAN get jobs. There's many fastfood restaurants hiring for summer jobs, your logic is wrong. These kids expect more for less. Undocumented youth has to struggle 10x harder than the average US citizen to achieve their dreams and goals after given a life and a place to live in which they did not choose, yet love. And, many of the beneficiaries of the DREAM Act are grown folks pursuing a profession, have already graduated from a university, or are serving our country, so this law will not be passed in vain.
What's the matter samchal? Do you have a problem with the word ILLEGAL? Our LAWS say that ILLEGAL immigrants cannot vote -- so what's to stop Obama from next declaring he's not going to enforce THOSE laws either?
Can anyone think of any more incentives to give illegal immigrants for coming here? And can the media find any more sob stories about valedictorians who were about to get deported?
I wish the US government would start to enforce the LAW.
Did you bother reading the article? Record numbers were deported last year. That's "enforcing the law". But you know, all that feverish deportation requires equipment, manpower, many, many man-hours...TAXES!
Did YOU bother reading the article? I don't care what they did last year or the years before that. How about CONTINUING to enforce the law which is now what Obama is NOT going to do?
Yes. And You?
Pay attention angry and irrational person: There are currently not enough resources at the disposal of the government in order to physically, and procedurally, deport all illegal immigrants. Period. This is essentially what the Obama administration is conceding, and therefore have chosen to focus what resources are available towards the folks they deem a greater problem, that being adult border-crossers and criminals. Understand? See, when agents are busy deporting 20 year old tomato pickers with no criminal records, that necessarily means they can't be tracking down those willfully unemployed illegals with criminal records. What you and others fail to understand is that the President has to grapple with the actual situation at hand and with the tools he's afforded, and not some idealized scenario where he can magically whisk away the 100,000's without papers. Unlike you, he resides in the real world.
Finally, none of the above explication should be presumptuously construed as tacit approval for an open-border policy. In fact, I hold precisely the opposite position. However, that doesn't mean I'm unwilling to pounce on the incorrigible ignorance that fills thread discussions such as these. Yours of course being a shiny example.
King Obama has spoken. Are you kidding me? What part of ILLEGAL don't you people get?
Its the whole Uppercase "i" can look like a lowercase "l" so when they see lllegal written out, it looks like it has 3 "l"s in it and they just turn it to legal. This works only for things they want though.
That's one way to get the Hispanic vote. Another nice move by Obama to show that he really cares.
Great. Law breakers rewarded. This country is becoming a third world sewer.
What laws did these children break? They simply went with their parents and grew up as Americans.
and now that they're gwownups and can make it right but don't they are lawbreakers.
They are here illegally. Period, end of discussion.
Classicbs... "Becoming"... it is already... When every call I make to a utility company or a store or a business starts with "for spanish press 1, For english press 2"... tells you where OUR country has gone.
They are not the law breakers. Their parents were. They were brought here as children. Why should they be punished for what their parents have done? They grew up and went to school in the United States. This is the world they know. Why should they be thrown out as they try to go to college? They have done nothing wrong. They had no say in the choices their parents have made when they were minors.
ok if that is the point than how about adding this to the "Dream Act"? The kids, who are here by no choice of their own get the pass but the parent(s) who brought the kids here get deported or jailed? If the parent brount the kids here to get them a better life than they should be happy to go.
chrsmom302.... If their parents truely gave a crap about them they would have FOLLOWED US law and come here LEGALLY.... Big difference...
Children or not. Send them home, which is not the US. Another dark day for this country.
This is their home, a lot of those kids came here when they were babies or little kids.
Most of them, dont know life Outside of the US.
Yep, I see him as a one term President.
What?! This great Obama will get many votes for this:)
Well...at least Obama finally started concentrating on jobs. Oh...wait.
Now all those wealthy senators and congressmen can hire more cheap labor to take care of their homes.
Obama could have used this the last time he was picking his cabinet.
hmm... guess that's more motivation to try and get over here illegally. Here comes the stampede.
why not just issue temp worker permit for all seasonal jobs in agriculture? the government should at least allow everyone to apply for annual temp work visa for those jobs.
Illegals can not vote you have to be a citizen to vote.
Kat, Florida is trying to take people who reported to Jury duty and said they were not eligible because they are illegal aliens off the voter rolls. If they can not be on jury duty rolls because of that why should they be on the voter rolls?
Why stand on legallities? If the dead can vote, anybody should be able to.
Kat... All you need is a utility bill with your name and address on it and you can go to your local town hall and register to vote.. They DO NOT CHECK your Immigration status....
They do in Florida.
Illegals can't vote huh? I guess they can't according to the law... OR UNTIL OBAMA SAYS THEY CAN.
Well, it just so happens I live in Florida. My wife, who has a green card and is not a citizen, received a voter registration form in the mail last week - which she easily could have filled out and sent back and I'm sure no one would have noticed, or cared what her immigration status was.
We even got a recorded message yesterday from our local Supervisor of Elections asking why she hadn't sent it back!
I'm willing to bet my next paycheck that there are thousands of illegal voters in Florida, as in other states, as well
Anything for a vote. Obama will do anything for a vote. The man would probably perform unnatural sex acts on a donkey if he thought it would get him "the donkey vote."
No standards, no values.. just a narcissist who would destroy a nation to elevate himself. Obama may have been born in Hawaii but I see nothing in him that would make me think he is an American.
You can not vote in an election without being a citizen. Illegals can not vote.
Dear Kat, Why is the DOJ suing Florida to stop them from cleaning up their voter roles? Florida is trying to remove Non-Citizens from the voter roles, any ploy this administration can use to get votes it will use. If we were assured that what you say is true alas it seems they lie. The democratic leaning states have no desire to prevent Non-Citizens from voting, they need all the help they can get and will take it from any source they can.
Why do you think these immigration "reforms" all have a path to citizensihip. If they too that off the table, they could probably get a deal that actually controlled to border and enforced the law.
It's not for the non citizen vote, Kat. It's for the ethnic swaying of those who can.
Acorn says it all
I'm sick of this election year pandering. Why does Obama think he has the power to pick and choose what federal laws he wants to enforce or not enforce?
Because Democrats are too spineless to defend America against him, even as his actions destroy their own party.
Way to go fishing for the Latino votes. That's pure Bull$h!t.
Kiss that latino butt. I hope he likes it.
He's so focused on kissing it, that he hasn't noticed the boot coming towards his own butt from the American taxpayers... and now we will be putting on steel-toes for sure.
Why do we need the legislative branch when we have an executive branch that does what ever it wants. No wonder states are taking their own actions. Sad.