New Policy Allows non-criminal Undocumented immigrants to stay

SwoLy-D · Aug 18, 2011

I'll just prefacing this by saying I hardly post here in the D&D, and I'm not a political activist of any sort... heck, I can't even vote right now ... but I was wondering what y'all thought about this:

Huffington Post Dudes said:

New Policy On Deportations Allows Some Non-Criminal Undocumented Immigrants To Stay

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration announced on Thursday it will do a case-by-case review of deportations, allowing many undocumented immigrants without criminal records to stay in the United States indefinitely and apply for work permits.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will send a letter on Thursday to Senate members who had asked for details on how the agency would prioritize its immigration enforcement. The policy change is meant as a framework to help prevent non-priority undocumented immigrants from "clogging the system," senior administration officials said on a conference call with reporters Thursday.

First, the agency will look at its pending immigration cases and close the low-priority cases, so immigration courts can focus on the most serious ones, administration officials said. The low-priority cases can be reopened if circumstances require. Next, guidance will be given to immigration enforcement agents to help them better detect serious criminals and other high-priority undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented immigrants whose cases are closed will be allowed to apply for work permits, but will not be given them automatically, officials said.

The move was perhaps meant to combat harsh criticism from Latino groups and immigration reform advocates, who have rebuked President Obama for continuing to deport undocumented people at record rates, while at the same time insisting he supports immigration reform.

Although the Obama administration has repeatedly said its deportation policies focus on the "worst of the worst," immigrant rights groups say enforcement agents still net a large number of non-criminal undocumented people.

The administration had earlier attempted to defend its record on Tuesday, with a blog post meant to "set the record straight" on the Secure Communities enforcement program.

Cecilia Munoz, White House director of Intergovernmental Affairs, wrote that more than half of all removals are of people with criminal records. Among non-criminals, most of those removed were apprehended crossing the border, had recently arrived in the United States or had been previously deported, she wrote.

"Those statistics matter," Munoz wrote. "While we have more work to do, the statistics demonstrate that the strategy DHS put in place is working."

The administration earlier tried to clarify its immigration enforcement policies in a June memo, which specifically recommended prosecutorial discretion. That memo cited the possibility of considering whether a person under removal proceedings would otherwise be eligible for the DREAM Act, an un-passed bill that would allow some undocumented young people to gain legal status in exchange for two years of college or military service.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of the key supporters of the DREAM Act, applauded the administration's decision Thursday.

"The Obama Administration has made the right decision in changing the way they handle deportations of DREAM Act students," Durbin said. "These students are the future doctors, lawyers, teachers and, maybe, senators, who will make America stronger. We need to be doing all we can to keep these talented, dedicated, American students here, not wasting increasingly precious resources sending them away to countries they barely remember.

Durbin pledget to "closely monitor DHS" to ensure the new policy would be implemented.

But increased discretion on the part of administration prosecutors may not be enough to please advocacy groups, many of which argue the administration should abolish certain enforcement programs altogether.

"In order to fulfill its promises, the administration must end policies like Secure Communities that result in the criminalization of innocent immigrants who are Americans in Waiting like those who came before them," said Chris Newman, legal director of the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, in an email statement. "The administration has pursued policies that are sowing fear and devastation among immigrant communities, and it must reverse course to stop the Arizonification of the country," he added, referencing Arizona's strict immigration enforcement policies.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...eportation-policy_n_930688.html?ref=fb&src=sp

Felons are already deported... I don't know at what level a "criminal" is determined to be someone who can stay.

I think it should have been like this from the beginning... although the "undocumented" part is already criminal...

What do y'all think?

Carl Herrera · Aug 18, 2011

Boy, that'll really rankle the Tea Party crowd.

rimrocker · Aug 18, 2011

Countdown to first wingnut radio host claiming Obama is bringing in an army of foreigners to vote for him in 6, 5, 4, 3...

da_juice · Aug 18, 2011

rimrocker said: ↑

Countdown to first wingnut radio host claiming Obama is bringing in an army of foreigners to vote for him in 6, 5, 4, 3...
Click to expand...

OBAMA IS BRINGING AN ARMY OF FOREIGNERS TO VOTE FOR HIM TAKE JOBS GET FREE STUFF WITHOUT PAYING TAXES!!!!1

WAKE UP AMERICA!!! 1488!

rocketsjudoka · Aug 18, 2011

I like this move unfortunately for Obama he is in a no way situation with immigration. His Admin. enforces immigration laws tougher than the previous one and he gets criticized for being soft on illegal immigration. At the same time he gets criticized by others for enforcing immigration laws more while Congressional Republicans and some Democrats block the Dream act.

FranchiseBlade · Aug 18, 2011

I just wish the Dream Act had passed. It seems like such a good way to help our country and do what's right. I don't really see a downside to the DREAM act.

Also I'm sure it's named after Hakeem Olajuwon.

rocketsjudoka · Aug 18, 2011

FranchiseBlade said: ↑

I just wish the Dream Act had passed. It seems like such a good way to help our country and do what's right. I don't really see a downside to the DREAM act.

Also I'm sure it's named after Hakeem Olajuwon.
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Well he was an immigrant.

Raven · Aug 18, 2011

Carl Herrera said: ↑

Boy, that'll really rankle the Tea Party crowd.
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And also hurt Obama's chances of getting reelected. It isn't just right wingers who are angry about illegal immigration.

ling ling · Aug 19, 2011

If they stay, they must be able to work. Why not give them a work permit automatically?

What are they going to do if they are allowed to stay and can't apply for work?

ChievousFTFace · Aug 19, 2011

da_juice said: ↑

OBAMA IS BRINGING AN ARMY OF FOREIGNERS TO VOTE FOR HIM TAKE JOBS GET FREE STUFF WITHOUT PAYING TAXES!!!!1

WAKE UP AMERICA!!! 1488!
Click to expand...

Northside Storm · Aug 19, 2011

Good. For too long, Obama has run an enforcement policy that is in many ways stricter than Bush's policy on deportation, in order to try to court the way for long-term immigration reform. Now that the Republicans have basically given him no credit (and in some bizarro twist, allege he is "trying to back-door DREAM"), he's doing the right thing.

What's the point of trying to dance with someone if they just want to leave?

Hope that teaches the Republicans a lesson, and I hope it means the President is ready to fight. Some small signs---this and DOMA, give a sense of optimism, that the President is finally fighting, rather than grovelling.

amaru · Aug 19, 2011

good.

FranchiseBlade · Aug 19, 2011

ling ling said: ↑

If they stay, they must be able to work. Why not give them a work permit automatically?

What are they going to do if they are allowed to stay and can't apply for work?
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If they stay they are allowed to apply for a work permit.

SwoLy-D · Aug 19, 2011

What I've heard from many opposed to this is the question of why had Obama not done this while he had an army of Democrats in the House... and the question of re-election...

I for one am wondering if with this policy, everyone who qualifies as "non-criminal" will go and get themselves caught, then be in the list as those who can apply for a work permit... while waiting for their residency. :grin:

da_juice · Aug 19, 2011

Espera, Swoly ¿por que no puedes particapar en nuestro democracia*?

* And is that a real word? :?

pgabriel · Aug 19, 2011

i saw a pundit talking about this one day and he said its pretty unrealistic to try and prosecute all deportation cases. there are millions of illegals in this country and to ship them out via a normal process would take up the us courts for decades

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