Breaking: Obama administration stops deporting...

[casmgn]

young immigrants (the character limit in the subject line is so annoying!).

By Tom Cohen, CNN
updated 10:19 AM EDT, Fri June 15, 2012

Washington (CNN) -- The Obama administration said Friday it will stop deporting young illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children if they meet certain requirements.

The election-year policy change will cover people younger than 30 who came to the United States before the age of 16, pose no criminal or security threat, and were successful students or served in the military, the Department of Homeland Security said.

It also will allow those meeting the requirements to apply for work permits, the statement said.

www.cnn.com/2012/06/15/politics/immigration/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[pixy0stix]

Do we really deport illegal immigrants who served in the military right now? That's messed up.

I fully support this change.

[charminglife]

That's great news.

[casmgn]

I am interested in hearing Romney's response. I can't imagine he supports this, but he also has to tread very carefully here given that he already lacks support from Latinos.

[ttt]

I'm glad they're doing this but it's also pretty obvious that this is an attempt to win back some of the Latino voters who have become unhappy with Obama. Nevertheless, its a positive step.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 15, 2012 10:01:59 GMT -5 ttt said:

I'm glad they're doing this but it's also pretty obvious that this is an attempt to win back some of the Latino voters who have become unhappy with Obama. Nevertheless, its a positive step.

On the flip side, it's going to alienate the "illegal is illegal" folks. I do wonder if those people weren't going to vote for him anyway, though.

[teflep]

Jun 15, 2012 10:01:37 GMT -5 casmgn said:

I am interested in hearing Romney's response. I can't imagine he supports this, but he also has to tread very carefully here given that he already lacks support from Latinos.

I thought it tracks with Rubios plan? Per AP it does. That is his track.

[josieposy]

FB is already exploding.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 15, 2012 10:13:03 GMT -5 josieposy said:

FB is already exploding.

In a bad way?

[josieposy]

People are pissed!!

[casmgn]

Jun 15, 2012 10:05:09 GMT -5 teflep said:

Jun 15, 2012 10:01:37 GMT -5 casmgn said:

I am interested in hearing Romney's response. I can't imagine he supports this, but he also has to tread very carefully here given that he already lacks support from Latinos.

I thought it tracks with Rubios plan? Per AP it does. That is his track.

I feel like I heard on CNN or NPR recently that Rubio's public plans and actual voting record on immigration issues don't exactly jive.

Also, I don't necessarily think that Romney will win the Latino vote just because of Rubio. Cubans and other Latinos don't exactly mesh well most of the time, in my experience.

[ttt]

Jun 15, 2012 10:03:20 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jun 15, 2012 10:01:59 GMT -5 ttt said:

I'm glad they're doing this but it's also pretty obvious that this is an attempt to win back some of the Latino voters who have become unhappy with Obama. Nevertheless, its a positive step.

On the flip side, it's going to alienate the "illegal is illegal" folks. I do wonder if those people weren't going to vote for him anyway, though.

Exactly- they were never going to support him anyway.

This isn't just about votes either- its about garnering support and campaign contributions. Immigrant non citizens cant vote but they can sure donate money.

[charminglife]

Jun 15, 2012 10:15:54 GMT -5 josieposy said:

People are pissed!!

on FB? my friends are mostly happy - those who aren't want full support of the DREAM act, not just this part.

[pixy0stix]

There's nothing on my FB feed.

[IIOY]

Now let's work on not kicking out the immigrants who come here to be educated in our universities and would gladly stay if given the option.

[iammalcolmx]

My FB isn't exploding at all

[ttt]

I'm disappointed that no one on my FB has mentioned it yet.

[marie427]

Same here, nothing on FB.

And I wholeheartedly agree with this move.

[msmerymac]

Question - say you are 28 today. In 3 years will they just deport you anyway, if they want to, or if this something that will cover you forever? Or is it just giving those under 30 an out to apply for full citizenship without consequences? (which is cool with me)

[iammalcolmx]

Jun 15, 2012 10:32:32 GMT -5 ttt said:

I'm disappointed that no one on my FB has mentioned it yet.

Me too!! I just posted it and expect support from all of you if phuckery ensues!!

[pixy0stix]

From my understanding they're granting them amnesty from deportation for the rest of their lives.

I do wonder about the older immigrants who have been here forever, who also grow up here. Why is the age limit 30?

[MrsAxilla]

Jun 15, 2012 10:34:59 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Question - say you are 28 today. In 3 years will they just deport you anyway, if they want to, or if this something that will cover you forever? Or is it just giving those under 30 an out to apply for full citizenship without consequences? (which is cool with me)

I think you'd be at risk of deportation at 30. They should definitely use that time to apply for citizenship. Isn't that one of the issues with applying? That if you 'tip off' the Feds that you're here illegally by applying, you'll be deported?

[ttt]

Jun 15, 2012 10:40:51 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jun 15, 2012 10:34:59 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Question - say you are 28 today. In 3 years will they just deport you anyway, if they want to, or if this something that will cover you forever? Or is it just giving those under 30 an out to apply for full citizenship without consequences? (which is cool with me)

I think you'd be at risk of deportation at 30. They should definitely use that time to apply for citizenship. Isn't that one of the issues with applying? That if you 'tip off' the Feds that you're here illegally by applying, you'll be deported?

I am fairly certain that you cannot apply for citizenship if you are here illegally. I don't think currently you can even apply for legal status. You have to leave the country and stay out for 10 years before you can do so, IIRC.

[josieposy]

I can't copy from my phone, but my favorite's start with "I'm not racist but...."

[marie427]

Jun 15, 2012 11:01:39 GMT -5 josieposy said:

I can't copy from my phone, but my favorite's start with "I'm not racist but...."

LOL. "I'm not racist but...GO BACK TO MEXICO!!!"

[laurenpetro]

Jun 15, 2012 10:42:59 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jun 15, 2012 10:40:51 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I think you'd be at risk of deportation at 30. They should definitely use that time to apply for citizenship. Isn't that one of the issues with applying? That if you 'tip off' the Feds that you're here illegally by applying, you'll be deported?

I am fairly certain that you cannot apply for citizenship if you are here illegally. I don't think currently you can even apply for legal status. You have to leave the country and stay out for 10 years before you can do so, IIRC.

unless something has changed in the past 5 years, this isn't correct. i know this is an annecdote but one of the guys who worked for us was illegal and was here for YEARS and slowly became legal. he hired an attorney and jumped through hoops to do it, but it can be done.

ETA: i suspect leaving and coming back is the cheaper and easier way to do it.

[MrsAxilla]

Jun 15, 2012 10:42:59 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jun 15, 2012 10:40:51 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I think you'd be at risk of deportation at 30. They should definitely use that time to apply for citizenship. Isn't that one of the issues with applying? That if you 'tip off' the Feds that you're here illegally by applying, you'll be deported?

I am fairly certain that you cannot apply for citizenship if you are here illegally. I don't think currently you can even apply for legal status. You have to leave the country and stay out for 10 years before you can do so, IIRC.

Hmmm....will that change, at least for those kids who meet the eligibility requirements?

[heyjude]

Btw, "not being deported" =/= "becoming a citizen." It's my understanding that the process for legal status remains the same. They just have a two year grace period before deportation. It's not all that generous but a change in the right direction.

[msmerymac]

Jun 15, 2012 11:45:37 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Btw, "not being deported" =/= "becoming a citizen." It's my understanding that the process for legal status remains the same. They just have a two year grace period before deportation. It's not all that generous but a change in the right direction.

Right. That's why I think if this is basically saying "we won't deport you until you turn 30," it's not all that great, especially if it doesn't create a path to citizenship in the meantime, which I think the DREAM act does. So you'd have to leave the country anyway or risk deportation? Isn't the whole point that these people have grown up in the US and are not familiar with their "home" country's language or culture and therefore deportation would be cruel and ineffective? Honestly, I think deporting someone who is 35 and might have children and a career is worse than deporting someone who is 22 and has been in the US for 10 years.

Though if you've spent most of your life in the US, it's probably not really likely the government is going to hunt you down on your 30th birthday and deport you unless they have a reason. But it's certainly a possibility.

[lys]

Did not Obama say back in Sept 2011 that he cannot make changes in the immigration system on his own that he needed Congress to do this? Did not Congress defeat the Dream Act?

Will those with work permits now be counted in the # of people seeking employment (thus increasing the unemplyment rate?)

This is something that Obama has always supported -- buy why this timing? Is this a political ploy to shore up his diminishing suspport by Hispanic voters? A bit of desperation?

We need to totally revamp our legal immigation system first - then deal with illegal immigration.