Insisting it is not amnesty, President Obama said Friday he would allow those brought to this country illegally as children to remain, and even to work, a move that could help up to 1.4 million.
The president, in a Rose Garden speech, described it as further refinement of the administration's policy to concentrate its prosecution and deportation efforts on the most serious offenders.
In essence, the government will be using its discretion not to pursue those who arrived in this country before turning 16, have no felony record, have resided here continuously for at least five years as of today, and are currently in school, have graduated from high school or obtained an equivalency diploma, or are honorably discharged veterans.
And they cannot have turned 30.
Those eligible can seek what amounts to a two-year deferment of any prosecution for being in this country illegally, a deferment that is infinitely renewable.
They also will be given permission to work legally in the United States.
"These are young people who study in our schools, they play in our neighborhoods, they're friends with our kids, they pledge allegiance to our flag,'' Obama said.
"They are Americans in their hearts, their minds, in every single way but one: on paper,'' he said, saying many "often have no idea that they're undocumented until they apply for a job or a driver's license or a college scholarship.''
The administration is putting the number who could be affected in the 800,000 range. But the Pew Hispanic Center estimated that the announcement could affect up to 1.4 million children and young adults.
That includes about 700,000 who are age 18 to 30 but arrived in the U.S. as children and either are in high school or already have graduated. Pew also says there are another 700,000 younger than 18 who are in school, including 150,000 in high school.
Gov. Jan Brewer noted the surprise announcement comes just days before the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of Arizona's 2010 law aimed at giving the state a role in apprehending illegal immigrants. She called it a "preemptive strike'' against the court and its forthcoming decision.
"What he has done today is he is going to give documentation to nearly a million people that have arrived in our country illegally and not by the rule of law,'' she said. But Brewer later conceded she is unsure how the president's directive will affect SB 1070 if its key provisions are allowed to go into effect.
A key section of the law under high court review would require state and local police to check the immigration status of those they have stopped if they have reason to believe they are in this country illegally.
The position of the Department of Homeland Security is that those in the deferred prosecution program remain in this country illegally. And they will not have an ID card saying they are protected by the order, though they will be entitled to get a work permit.
But officials said their status will be in agency records. And any calls by state and local police to find out whether someone is here illegally will result in a response that the person cannot be held.
The directive also could undermine another section of SB 1070 which makes it a state crime for someone not in this country legally to seek work in Arizona, as those granted deferred prosecution will have federally issued work permits.
Brewer said she is unsure how today's order will affect the law -- assuming the high court gives the go-ahead for enforcing the sections a federal judge placed on hold nearly two years ago.
"I believe that we need to address that issue,'' she said.
SB 1070 aside, Brewer said the action amounts to "back-door amnesty,'' with the president using his power to do what Congress will not: adopt the DREAM Act.
That law, which has been debated by Congress, goes much further. It would provide a path to citizenship for those brought to the United States illegally as children. Homeland Security officials stressed that this "prosecutorial discretion'' gives no rights to those affected or provides a route to citizenship, saying only Congress can do that.
"This is not amnesty,'' the president said.
"This is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. This is not a permanent fix,'' he continued. "This is a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people. It is the right thing to do.''
Brewer, however, characterized Obama's move as "blatant political pandering by a president desperate to shore up his political base.''
That theme was echoed by Republican Sen. John McCain who called the president's actions a "politically-motivated power grab that does nothing to further the debate but instead adds additional confusion and uncertainty to our broken immigration system.''
Pew Hispanic Center says a survey last year found that Hispanics oppose the deportation policies of the Obama administration by a margin of 59 to 27 percent. And 41 percent of those questioned said they are aware that there have been more immigrants deported each year under the Obama administration than that of his predecessor.
The president acknowledged that his action comes because Congress has refused to approve the DREAM Act -- short for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act -- even though it has had bipartisan support, at least in the past, including at one time by McCain.
Brewer sidestepped questions of how she feels about the proposal and whether those who entered the country illegally as children should be sent back.
"My suggestion has always been (that) we need to get our borders secure and then we can deal with these other issues,'' the governor said. Pushed further, she would respond by saying only "I believe in the rule of law.''
U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle, R-Ariz., expressed similar sentiments, saying the president -- who he called the "propagandist-in-chief'' -- must first act to secure the border
On the other side of the aisle, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., called the policy "a sensible solution,'' though not a permanent one.
"Those with deep roots in the United States who have contributed immensely to our country's well-being will -- at long last -- be taken out of the deportation pool so we can concentrate our resources on real threats and serious criminals,'' he said.
State Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said more needs to be done to ensure that the brightest of high schoolers get a college education.
Nothing in existing law denies college enrollment, even in Arizona. But a 2004 voter-approved initiative says those who are not in this country legally -- which would still include those in the deferred prosecution program -- must pay the higher tuition charged to out-of-state residents.
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phany09 posted at 8:52 pm on Fri, Jul 13, 2012.
Most of you guys are legal born and raised here, these law will help us that were raised here and this is the only country we know... If illegals are taking all the jobs available is because they are the best we take the jobs that all LEGALS don't want.. Legals that are on unemployment prefer being in their houses than going to the fields and getting a job.. Fields need
Jesus Christo de Nogales posted at 10:42 am on Thu, Jun 28, 2012.
Obama is a true racist. Why does the US President hate the advancement of the standard of living for Mexico’s poor? Barrack Hussein Obama; how dare you deprive Mexico its young educated and motivated people? These illegal aliens now in the US are the only hope for Mexico and you want to keep them here in the US. They could start businesses, create jobs, and improve the standard of living for the poor people of Mexico. Yet you want to be selfish and deprive Mexico of these talented youth who could make life better for all the people of Mexico. SHAME ON YOU! Have you no compassion for the poor now living in Mexico? Gustavo Arellano, Steve Gallardo, Nicky Diaz Santillan, and La Raza need to insist that all these young educated and talented Mexicans be sent back to Mexico to help improve the standard of living for the poor Mexicans.
Rational Human posted at 11:28 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
True but Ronald Reagan granted amnesty in '82 in a sweeping immigration reform bill that was sold as a crackdown: There would be tighter security at the Mexican border, and employers would face strict penalties for hiring undocumented workers. Then the democrats, who controlled congress, gutted the part that would have stopped illegal immigration by securing the border and making employers face strict penalties for hiring undocumented workers. The democrats created the current problem.
informedVoter posted at 1:15 pm on Wed, Jun 20, 2012.
Yeah, Obama is just trying to get votes but he did this all wrong. He should have done what Regan did in 1986 by granting amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously. ie; Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Obama is so amateur.
loubator posted at 10:05 am on Mon, Jun 18, 2012.
Trying to rack up some votes, eh, Barry?
k33j88 posted at 11:07 pm on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
Two questions: How many of these "hard-working" illegals have an unwavering loyalty to our code of ethics/laws? How many are OTM'S (other than mexicans), willing to subvert our way of life to promote sharia?
Rational Human posted at 9:20 pm on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
I quote, "You, all need to accept that a BLACK man lives in the White house. Don't tell me you're not racist, it's oozing out all over you and the rest of the radical tea party/quasi-republicans." --downtownrodent
downtownrodent, we all understand what race the fraud that occupies the White House claims to be, even though he is at least half White. What we don't understand is why you race baiters continually have to throw the race card instead of using facts to support what could only be described as a failed presidency not unlike that of President Carter's.
A Black man criticizes a White politician and he's only exercising his right to free speech. A White man criticizes a Black politician and he's a racist who should be arrested for a hate crime. Anyone else see the double standard here?
Rational Human posted at 5:59 pm on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
The only people here talking about race seem to be the race bating progressive socialistas. Throwing the race card whenever a person of color is involved is their stock and trade. When will you race baiters finally understand that illegal isn't a race?
UnholyKatalyst posted at 3:40 pm on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
downtown,
It's people like you that never cease to amaze me. You speak of racism and bigots yet when describing employment for illegals you say; "Who's gonna cut your grass, and clean your house?"
Are there racist people in America who dislike the president only because he is black, more than likely yes. But don't categorize everyone within this posting just because of their dislike of him. He is a poor president and he himself has displayed that. Should I pull the racist card whenever I hear a black person speak negatively about George W Bush?
Do everyone a favor and keep your comments to yourself and off this website.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:59 am on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
Hmmm,
It's 6 a.m. and I'm awake early and bored, especially after reading all of the foregoing comments. Think I go have a breakfast burrito. Given Romney's performance, looks to me like we'll have four more years!
AZ101 posted at 7:24 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
Obama is taking the humane apprioach. How can you deport a young person to a country they have never lived in.
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 5:32 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
It‘s very rare that you see President Obama admit wrongdoing after he’s done something. Unfortunately, it’s much more common for him to say something is a bad idea and then do it. Listing the number of instances would take too long, but it‘s safe to say it’s a common trend.
And now there’s just one more example. In the following clip, taken from a 2011 Univision Town Hall, President Obama admits that it’s beyond his power to suspend deportations for anyone because (surprise, surprise) there are laws on the books that he’d be breaking by doing that. In other words, the President acknowledges that to do what he did today would be a rank violation of the separation of powers. Hear him state the truth below.
http://youtu.be/J9isifcg9ik
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 4:14 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
This is far from law assaguila, and there is something that can be done about it. Vote out this fraud and take back America for Americans. Under Obongo the importation of poverty will continue until America is as bad off as Mexico is now. He is such an anti-American coward and traitor he should be impeached and thrown out of the country.
abimopectore posted at 2:11 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
Executive orders should not be used to implement policy issues that should be legislated through Congress, most especially during an election year. This is something Congress should tackle because it's only going to get fixed if Congress does it and NOT by Presidential fiat. President Obama hung out the Hispanic voters until he couldn't distract the country any further about his lack of ability to lead our country through this economic mess. I don't see any principle-driven decision here other than an attempt to keep the Hispanic voting block on his side. I would be more apt to believe in his intentions had he done it a year or two ago. If anything, President Obama is not being completely forthright in his decision because this executive order won't be implemented by the time he's voted out of office in November since it TAKES TIME to do the paper work and background checks in order to grant these special visas in order to verify the requirements stipulated in his executive order. It's more than a little late for most folks since I don't believe they will benefit from this order when it's rescinded in January of next year. If President Obama has shown anything this year is that he's willing to embrace special interests that run counter to an open and honest debate in a democratic society in order to try to keep his job. President Obama's new motto: "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
UnholyKatalyst posted at 12:45 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
Firstly, Leon please stop tying in all caps. I believe that is against at least 4 internet rules.
This is nothing more than Obama's making a political move. Yes other presidents have done other things and no he won't be the last. But there is a reason for check and balance of power with the three branches. This will be an on going issue that will be debated and fought. I am sure Congress was less than happy when they heard this considering they have been denying the "Dream Act" for some time now.
I also love the fact people are using numbers from the 2010 Census of the Hispanic population. It seems to be the case for people and media alike. Do we have no other illegal immigrants? I suppose Asian immigrants were never sneaking over here on boats. Or one of the MANY other nationalities.
Don't get me wrong, I am completely against this. We are a government and country of laws. It is wrong for one man or a handful to selectively enforce what they will. We became this great country because of immigrants. But we selectively choose which seemed to turn out pretty well.
When you hand out free stuff you will never get anything good in return. The law of equivalent exchange. And to set the record straight, I come from a family whose grandfather migrated here illegally. He married into citizenship and until recently I believed he did it properly like my grandmother. I was disappointed when I found out he was illegal.
A few things that haven't been looked at but I am sure will be are; no taxation without representation. How can we tax people who qualify but still not allow them to vote? What will become of adults who don't qualify and are deported while their young children qualify? Some people call this a band-aid solution to the immigration problem. I firmly believe this is going to be a bigger can of worms than we already had. Now instead of plusible denial our government will be directly responsible for what happens next.
Just my two cents.
Slabside posted at 12:38 pm on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
DING DING DING! And we have a winner of the "Progressive Liberal Jacka_s_s Racist Award"! Tonight's award goes to phxvato1202 for interjecting racism when he has no valid argument to make. Congratulations you Liberal idiot.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:09 am on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
TO SHOW YOU THE PRO-ILLEGAL ALIEN (AND OTHER LIBERAL/PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS) MEDIA BIAS NOT JUST IN THIS NEWSPAPER BUT ON ALL THE LOCAL TV CHANNELS TOO..........JUST LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS ARTICLE.
YOU HAVE A "SCOWLING...PURSED-LIPPED" GOVERNOR JAN BREWER ON THE ONE "RIGHT" HAND.
AND ON THE "LEFT" HAND YOU HAVE A ..."PENSIVE, THOUGHTFUL, PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA"....LOOKING OFF IN THE DISTANCE LIKE A MODERN-DAY.....FDR.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ...LIBERAL/PROGRESSIVE VS CONSERVATIVE/TEA PARTY....JOURNALISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY...........JUST GO TO THE ARTICLE IN THIS EDITION REGARDING......"MARTINEZ: STUDY SHOWS WHICH STO'S HELP UNDERPRIVILEDGED STUDENTS"...YOU WILL SEE A "GLAMOR SHOT" OF MS. CHRISTINA MARTINEZ....THE AUTHOR .......COMPARE THAT WITH THE......"WICKED WITCH OF OZ" PHOTOGRAPH OF GOVERNOR JAN BREWER.
COME ON............LET'S HAVE A LITTLE JOURNALISTIC BALANCE AND ONCE IN A WHILE HAVE A SMILING PHOTOGRAPH OF OUR LOVELY GOVERNOR, JAN BREWER.........OK......[wink][wink]
Accuracy posted at 9:44 am on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
Over the past ten years, Congress has repeatedly rejected the DREAM Act or any backdoor amnesty strategy leading to an open invitation for more illegal immigration.
President Obama's move allows him to implement parts of his DREAM Act legislation by bypassing Congress with Executive Order to stop deporting young Illegal aliens. Obama’s hostility towards the Constitution . . . In hopes of landing Latino (ready to vote) support.
Illegal immigration amnesty will be a major issue in this year's presidential election by both parties. Immigration is an issue Obama feels more confidence in talking about vs the economy and ObamaCare that may be stricken down by the Supreme Court any day.
Juggernaut8000 posted at 8:15 am on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
Obama is the worst dictator the US has ever had. This decision is only to get votes, despite the devastation it will cause to the country.
chatmandu002 posted at 8:04 am on Sat, Jun 16, 2012.
The race for the border has begun. Street corners in every town between here and Mexico City will have "qualifying papers" for sale. Will the new "dream people" that get work cards also qualify for unemployment, food stamps and housing assistance. Will the families of "dream people" be deported? Just how serious of a crime does it take to be dropped from the eligibility list for "dream people"? Leave it to Obama to create a new entitlement for non-citizens to get more votes.
Rational Human posted at 8:33 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
In answer to your question IceCat, yes we want them deported. We want all undocumented illegal migrants deported.
IceCat posted at 7:05 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
You are so misinformed Leon. The requirements is that they have to be here at least five years, earn either a high school diploma or college diploma. Since this population group doesn't place much importance in education, that alone cuts the numbers down.
Are you aware that undocumented persons have started businesses here and hired US citizens as employees?
What about these young people that get degrees in areas of studies that this nation really needs badly in order to compete in the world. You would rather that these people be deported to a country that have no ties to and waste their knowledge, rather than becoming leaders, taxpayers, respected members of our community here?
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:32 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Let's look at the facts here, Folks. The American Community Institute Survey using the figures provided by the 2010 US Census from the Department of Homeland Security (headed by none other than Janet "don't call them illegal aliens call them undocumented immigrants" Napolitano). The information from the Fact-Finder's documentation shows that there are 10 Million Illegal Aliens from the US Census questionaires. Now we all know that there are 2-3 times that many Illegal Aliens in the United States because study after study has shown that to be the case (500,000 in Arizona alone). Using the Department of Homeland's "Tooth Fairy" estimates of only 10 Million Illegal Aliens shows that 700,000 are males 18-24, 500,00 females 18-24, 80,000 are 17yo males and 60,000 are 17yo females. Which gives you a total, give or take of 1,300,000 HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE AGED ILLEGAL ALIENS.
Multiply this by a factor of 2 or 3 (using the more realistic number of Illegal Aliens in the US of 20-30 Million) and you get my figures of ......2-3 MILLION 17YO-24YO HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE AGE ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE UNDER DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA TO ...........FLOOD THE AMERICAN JOB MARKET WITH ..."WORK PERMITS" .....WHILE WE HAVE 8.2% "LEGAL" AMERICAN UNEMPLOYMENT.
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST MANDATED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE THAT A POSSIBLE 2-3 MILLION JOBS WILL BE STOLEN FROM AMERICAN JOB SEEKERS.
Bingo6 posted at 5:10 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Yeah poor poor Leon and his left over buddies from the JT Ready brigade.
I'll bet one of his greatest fears is that he's probably going to be mopping floors at the corner burger joint taking orders from his new Latino boss. What a hoot, I'd pay to see that.
hillstreet posted at 5:06 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
It was great to see the leading haters in the state blow a gasket. Priceless.
Juggernaut8000 posted at 5:00 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Obama only did this to secure the Hispanic vote. The illegals will continue to destroy the American economy and dream courtesy of liberal democrats.
American Socialist posted at 3:43 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Geeze...have a drink people...relax.
Every politician has been kicking this can down the road for years, time to get to work.
This used to be right wing thing too, Reagan granted amenisty, Bush wanted the dream act, Rick Perry too.
Engaged Voter posted at 3:38 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Poor Leon...it seems his math skills are the equal of his grammar skills.
2-3 million, Leon? I'd pay real money if you could back up that number.
Even by "liberal" estimates, the number is 800,000...and see my above comment; given the stipulation that they have ZERO criminal record, there won't be that many who could qualify.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 3:14 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
If you are in this County illegally then that is a crime.
If you drive a car without a driver's license that is a crime.
If you build an addition to your house without a building permit that is a crime.
FOLKS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT WHO IS...PIMPING....AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP FOR THE HISPANIC VOTE IN NOVEMBER. THE OBAMA'S HAVE NO LOVE OR RESPECT FOR BEING AN AMERICAN.
MICHELLE OBAMA CAN BE SEEN ON YOUTUBE GIVING A SPEECH DURING THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WHERE SHE SAYS THAT SHE WAS ASHAMED TO BE AN AMERICAN....FOR THE FIRST 40YEARS OF HER LIFE.
EVERY SINGLE DAY IT SEEMS...THERE IS A NEWS CLIP OF AN AMERICAN MILITARY HERO WHO HAS BEEN KILLED DEFENDING THE AFGHANISTAN BORDER FROM THE TALIBAN COMING IN FROM PAKISTAN.
THESE FALLEN WARRIORS HAVE DIED PROTECTING THE BORDER OF A FOREIGN NATION WHILE THEIR ........COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS BACK HOME IN AMERICA GIVING AMNESTY TO 2-3 MILLION FOREIGN CITIZENS WHO HAVE COME INTO AMERICA.....ILLEGALLY.
TO ME, WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DONE TODAY IS TREASON AND HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED.
Suelee posted at 2:40 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
This band-aid fix has all of the same problems as the "Dream Act." The unintended consequence will be a mounting body count of dead infants and children as parents rush to get their children across the border before they are 16 so that they can enjoy the rights of legal immigrants (remember those folks? they actually followed the law and the established process for being here legally).
Engaged Voter posted at 2:03 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
So the way this works, children who were forced to come to this country will not be deported, unless of course they have had a run in with the law. This includes known gang associations, identity theft, as well as any/all other crimes.
Out of the 23+ million illegals here, that should leave...what...200,000 at most who will qualify?
Not as bad as it sounded at first. :)
asuaguila posted at 1:37 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
Well said J8. Keep screaming at the wind, while the grownups keep working. Amnesty or not, it's now law and you can't do a da_n thing about it.
Juggernaut8000 posted at 1:21 pm on Fri, Jun 15, 2012.
This is ridiculous, every illegal will claim they were brought here before they turned 16. Without a way to prove otherwise, they can stay? This is amnesty, plain and simple.
The US will be a third world country in 15 years because of laws like this. All illegals should be deported, no matter how long they have been here.