Obama makes election-year change in deportation policy

[petegz28]

The Obama administration announced Friday it will stop deporting illegal immigrants who come to the country at a young age.

The politically charged decision comes as Obama faces a tough reelection fight against Republican Mitt Romney, and Hispanic voters in swing states will play a crucial role in the contest.

The change in policy could allow as many as 800,000 immigrants who came to the United States illegally not only to remain in the country without fear of being deported, but to work legally, according to a senior administration official speaking to reporters Friday.

In a Rose Garden statement, President Obama said the measure would “lift the shadow of deportation” from immigrants, some of who have made “extraordinary contributions” by “serving in our military and protecting our freedom.”

“That we would treat them as expendable makes no sense,” Obama said.

“They study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods ... they pledge allegiance to our flag, they are Americans in their hearts and minds ... and in every single way but one: on paper."

Obama was briefly interrupted by a reporter during his statement, a rare breach of protocol that caused the president to lose his temper.

"Excuse me sir, it's not time for questions, sir, not while I'm speaking," Obama said.

Later in his statement, Obama, pointing his finger at the reporter in front of the live TV cameras, said: "And the answer to your question, sir — and the next time I prefer you to let me finish by statements before you ask a question — is this is the right thing to do for the American people. I didn't ask for an argument, I'm answering your question."

The new policy will not grant citizenship to children who came to the United States as illegal immigrants, but will remove the threat of deportation and grant them the right to work in the United States.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the policy change will apply to those who came to the United States before they were 16 and who are younger than 30 if they have lived here for five years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S. high school or served in the military.

A memo from DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano ordering the "prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to the United States as children" argued that those covered by the order "only know this country as home." It said these people "lacked the intent to violate the law."

The new policy will apply to individuals who are already in deportation proceedings, the memo said.

The policy change will accomplish portions of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, legislation that has stalled in Congress amid Republican opposition.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...gration-policy

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I'm just sick of idiots like you justifying ILLEGAL behavior, while our country goes down the tubes.

Throw the book at those people who made the mistake of letting an adult take them across the border when they were a child!

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

I have no idea where you get that he "obviously" doesn't care about them. And if the next president in 4 years wants to change the policy, that's up to him. But in the event Mitt becomes pres in January, he stammered his way around the issue but left the impression that he would not revoke it.

People can defend this "vile" move because it is fair. We tend to have a principle here of not punishing people for things out of their control. Those people who were brought here as kids didn't set out to do anything wrong. Meanwhile, they have established a life here and been good people. And you think it is vile not to return them to a country they have never really known, where they may not have even been since they were a young child. They might not even speak Spanish or know anyone there. But its vile to not ship them out. You have a very odd view of things.

Wow, you seem to have read my post yet you still can't process it. Seriously, is English your first language? Your reading comprehension skills are just abysmal.

Try again and see if you can post a reply that comes CLOSE to addressing what I said.

Anyone want to help him out on this? He obviously needs a boost.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Throw the book at those people who made the mistake of letting an adult take them across the border when they were a child!

It doesn't change the fact that they got over $100,000 of education that other people paid for, and they get a free pass into the country because they were on good behavior.

I'm all for amnesty. Make these guy pay taxes like the rest of us. But **** the ridiculous mentality that they've earned their citizenship. There needs to be some kind of heavy penalty attached to it too.

And again, I don't understand why these guys get preferential treatment from stealing taxpayer money on the school system while an immigrant who pays legitimate tuition and works his or her ass off in college doesn't fulfill the 5 year requirement and gets booted out. I don't understand why they get preferential treatment over a Liberian in a war-torn country who is waiting in line patiently to rejoin their son in America.