The Obama Administration announced sweeping changes to immigration enforcement policy today: effective immediately, young, undocumented residents of the U.S. with clean backgrounds 鈥渨ill be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings.鈥�
from U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 鈥淭hose who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization,鈥� the statement continues.
The guidelines for consideration are as follows:
Came to the United States under the age of sixteen; Have continuously resided in the United States for a least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and are present in the United States on the date of this memorandum; Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety; Are not above the age of thirty.
Homeland Security notes the change in no way provides a path to citizenship; 鈥淥nly the Congress, acting through its legislative authority, can confer these rights.鈥� U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are expected to begin implementing the application process for undocumented residents within sixty days.
