According to a memorandum released on June 15 by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the Obama administration will no longer deport undocumented,
law-abiding young people who immigrated to the U.S. illegally when they were
children. In addition, some will also be eligible to receive work permits.

Napolitano wrote, “Our Nation’s immigration laws must be enforced in a strong
and sensible manner. They 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.”

In the memorandum to top officials from US Customs and Border Protection, US
Citizenship and Immigration Services, and US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, Napolitano outlined the criteria for people who qualify for the
exemptions from deportation proceedings as follows:

• Must be currently under the age of 30 must have entered the United States
before they were 16 years old;

• Must have lived in the United States for five years before today’s
date;

• Must be enrolled in school, have graduated from school, obtained a GED, or
have been discharged from the Coast Guard or the armed forces.

People who demonstrate with documentation that they meet the criteria will be
able to defer action on their deportation for two years and will be allowed to
apply for work permits.

This exemption does not apply to those who have been convicted of a felony, a
significant misdemeanor offense, or multiple misdemeanor offenses, or if they
pose a threat to national security.

But Secretary Napolitano pointed out that this new policy does not provide a
path to citizenship. She added, “This memorandum confers no substantive right,
immigration status or pathway to citizenship. Only the Congress, acting through
its legislative authority, can confer these rights,” Napolitano said. “It
remains for the executive branch, however, to set forth policy for the exercise
of discretion within the framework of the existing law. I have done so
here.”

But whatever the case, this is a true start to the American DREAM. Thank you,
Mr. President.

IN THIS ISSUE
The U.S. Naturalization Civics Test
The Latino Vote, the “Sleeping Giant:” Key to the 2012 Presidential
Election?
High-Skilled Worker Visas: No More to be Had This Year, To the Dismay of Many
Businesses
A Quick Reminder: The 2012 Summer Olympics Will Take Place in London
The
Faces of US Immigrants: Ariana Huffington, Columnist and Author
Recipes
From The Melting Pot: Japanese Style Deep Fried Shrimp
Quote of the Month

Source:

http://www.immigrationdirect.com/blog/newsletter/newsletter-june-2012-why-we-dont-have-immigration-reform-according-to-david-axelrod-the-tea-party-is-to-blame/