Video of President Obama’s decision not to deport kids of illegal migrants
Here’s a heckler-free clip of President Barack Obama on deportation waivers for young illegal immigrants, via the Washington Post:
Click here to read the Homeland Security memo from Janet Napolitano, laying out the Obama administration’s decision not to deport young people who came to the U.S. with their illegal immigrant parents.
Among the requirements for a deportation waiver:
– came to the United States under the age of 16;
– has continuously lived in the United states for [at] least five years….;
– is currently in school, has graduated from high school, has obtained a general education development certificate, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or the Armed Forces of the United States;
– has not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety; and
– is not above the age of 30.
The breakdown from the Associated Press:
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama eased enforcement of immigration laws Friday, offering a chance for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and work. Immediately embraced by Hispanics, the extraordinary step touched off an election-year confrontation with congressional Republicans.
“Let’s be clear, this is not amnesty, this is not immunity, this is not a path to citizenship, this is not a permanent fix,” Obama said from the White House Rose Garden. “This is the right thing to do.”
The policy change will affect as many as 800,000 immigrants who have lived in fear of deportation. It bypasses Congress and partially achieves the goals of the “DREAM Act,” congressional legislation that would establish a path toward citizenship for young people who came to the United States illegally but who attend college or join the military.
Under the administration plan, illegal immigrants will be immune from deportation if they were brought to the United States before they turned 16 and are younger than 30, have been in the country for at least five continuous years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S. high school or earned a GED or served in the military. They also can apply for a work permit that will be good for two years with no limits on how many times it can be renewed.
Obama said the change would become effective immediately to “lift the shadow of deportation from these young people.”
The step, to be carried out by the Department of Homeland Security, comes one week before Obama plans to address the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney is to speak to the group on Thursday.
“Many of these young people have already contributed to our country in significant ways,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wrote in a memorandum describing the administration’s action. “Prosecutorial discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here.”
The policy closely tracks a proposal being drafted by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a potential vice presidential running mate for Romney, as an alternative to the DREAM Act, formally the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act.
While many Republican lawmakers decried the Obama administration’s move, Rubio offered a tempered response.
“Today’s announcement will be welcome news for many of these kids desperate for an answer, but it is a short-term answer to a long-term problem,” Rubio said in a statement. “And by once again ignoring the Constitution and going around Congress, this short-term policy will make it harder to find a balanced and responsible long-term one.”
Midway through his remarks, Obama was interrupted by a reporter from a conservative online publication, Neil Munro of the Daily Caller, who shouted, “Why do you favor foreigners over American workers?” Clearly irritated, Obama said that he was explaining the policy, not looking for an argument, and that the change was the “right thing to do for the American people.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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71 comments Add your comment
markie mark
June 15th, 2012
1:06 pm
“Look on the bright side….there will be more illegals for hire to fix your caps lock key.”
Aquagirl, I dont care what your politics may be…thats damn funny!!
td
June 15th, 2012
1:22 pm
GaBlue
June 15th, 2012
12:43 pm
I have no problem sleeping at night because I know that we are either a nation of laws or we are a lawless nation. There are millions of people all over this world that have been standing in line for years to have the chance to come hear and take part in the American dream. They are going to bed hungry at night but they are not breaking the law and deserve the chance to come here but can not get here because people like you want to allow people to break the law and jump the line.
My wife had to spend a year on a island by herself at the age of 13, getting all her shots and waiting for a sponsor, before she was allowed to come. She is totally opposed to illegal aliens and thinks they all should be sent back because it is not fair for all the ones that is doing it the right way.
TiredOfIt
June 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
The only thing I can imagine worst than Romney being president, is be told one of my family members has passed away.
Redcoat
June 15th, 2012
1:42 pm
You happy now?
honested
June 15th, 2012
2:03 pm
I guess this is good news for people in North Fulton, Cobb, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Hall Counties, and the City of Dunwoody.
You won’t have to clean your own house, tend your own yard or pay someone else a living wage to do so,……..for at least another little while.
3d
June 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
Wonder how many of the illegals are paying income tax?
I didn’t know you could join the military of any country if you overstayed your visa and/or were residing there without being able to prove that you’re a citizen of that country.
Please don’t tell any more AQ members.
WOW
June 15th, 2012
2:22 pm
TD:
Did you read the memo, these are the children of people who broke the law. How is a child who came with their parent, in turn a criminal? It also clearly states that this will not allow them any expedited path towards citizenship.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
2:24 pm
honested, regarding your comment “I guess this is good news for people in North Fulton, Cobb, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Hall Counties, and the City of Dunwoody….”
You must be referring to all the repubs posting here, who claim to be “small business owners,” and “job creators,” you know, the ones who go by Home Depot and pick up a couple of Mexicans to help with yard work.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
2:40 pm
WOW asks s td “Did you read the memo,” Are you kidding? Him read something that might conflict with his preconceived notions, never gonna happen. For example he rants about ‘the libs’ supporting this, ignoring that mccain, raygun, bush 1 & 2, and even romney, (who of course has now done his usual flippedy floppedy), have all supported this or similar measures in the past. He bemoans all the “millions of people all over this world that have been standing in line for years to have the chance to come hear and take part in the American dream. They are going to bed hungry at night but they are not breaking the law and deserve the chance to come here but can not get here because people like you” Never mind that this executive order does not affect a single one of these ‘millions,’ it does nothing to reduce the quota–set by congress, mind you–of aliens allowed to enter the country and eventually seek citizenship.
This was just another excuse for more of his tireless rants about Obama destroying the country. Facts have no relevance when it comes to his prejudices.
Dave
June 15th, 2012
2:44 pm
unincorporated – I’m a conservative but I support this action by Obama, but I gotta say your comment “Who would deport Jesus?” has got to be one of the most moronic posts I’ve ever read on the AJC and that’s really something.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
2:58 pm
Well I guess you’ll hate my comment re: who would deport Mary, even more.
Cobb resident & voter
June 15th, 2012
3:23 pm
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/teen-file-paperwork-fighting-deportation/nPWT4/
Teen faces deportation after car accident while driving without a license.
This is a prime example of the illegals continuing illegal activity and flaunting it in our faces. She and her family had no concerns that they were unlicensed and uninsured. Have they compensated the other driver for the damages? Makes me mad as H-E-L-L.
honested
June 15th, 2012
4:19 pm
Auntie Christ
That is exactly (part) of my target.
The other half is ‘maid services’ using unmaintained, clapped out cars with a fresh coat of paint and driver’s of dubious qualification and ‘lawn services’ meeting the same criteria.
Is the state on top of making sure there is adequate workmen’s comp., liability insurance, bonding of the employees, withholding being deposited into legitimate and active accounts?
Of course not! These are the contributors to the One Party State and as ‘job creators’ they are ‘entitled’ to create a new ’sub-class’ as it suits them.
Right?
Ole Guy
June 15th, 2012
4:38 pm
PB, your reasoning, based purely on sympathetic grounds, is truly heart rendering. To be sure, these kids…offspring to the parents who chose to ignore the rules of the “game”…had absolutely nothing to do with their parents’ actions. So tell me…WHERE DOES IT ALL STOP? At what point do you think the global community just might start viewing this great Country with respect; not an easy pushover for any-and-all woes? At what point do you feel that the illegal community just might begin to consider the possibility that doing things the RIGHT way; the LEGAL way just may be less of a bother than simply ignoring those rules? What’s the point in even having those rules if they become options rather than obligations? If the lives of those who choose to do things their own damn way, rather than follow the established rules (and the innocents they drag along with them) are made a little “uncomfortable”; a little inconvenient, than maybe a few would-be illegals just might start considering the meaning of LAW.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
5:03 pm
Cobb res & voter: Has it gone completely over your head that the main virtue of the Dream Act is the prevention of this very situation. If the wrong wing had not filibustered the proposal in 2010, this young lady, who epitomizes the people targeted by the act, would have had a license and insurance. Her other family members would be paying taxes and working for real wages, not the depressed wages paid by those who exploit those here illegally, consequently depressing wages for everyone. As long as you keep voting for people who pander to the least common denominator, who pander to your fears and prejudices, progress will never be made in this area. And if you think we can just deport some 12 million people while still maintaining some semblance of being a great and just nation, you’re out of your mind.
Doug
June 15th, 2012
5:42 pm
Dear Aquagirl,
When you described some elected officials as illiterate, your verb and subject did not agree.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
6:11 pm
Doug, Aquagirl was quoting one of the earlier commenters. It would be easy to not realize this, because the comment by the idiot she quoted was not worth taking time to read.
Big Hat
June 15th, 2012
7:04 pm
want to solve the illegal immigration problem? Get really, really drunk and drive north on Buford Highway starting at the Fulton/DeKalb line. Run over a few anchor babies and claim you were just standing your ground, in your car. You’ll get off with no more than a wrist slap, guaranteed.
ld
June 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
IF
Romeny is elected, an easy “re-election” move is to continue this policy AND seek to have it inacted into law with a few amendments that will appease the “anti-immigration baracade the border crowd” — maybe add “if speak English” and/or “if are a member of a church” to appease a couple more groups.
fire eater
June 16th, 2012
6:17 am
This is a blatant and probably illegal move designed to bolster the Democrats third world electoral juggernaut this November. Note that none of the “illegals” are from Sweden or Switzerland…they are mostly illiterate peasants from Central America and Mexico. What GOOD do any such invaders bring for America?
Third world immigration is the results of an evil pact between two baleful forces: Big Business and the far left – Wall Street wants a flood of cheap, disposable labor to make a fast profit TODAY with NO concern for America’s future; they have no other concern. The far left takes a longer view: by changing America from a country of European descended people into a sink of brawling third worlders, they will have their long-sought bolshevik proletariat for their revolution.
All real conservatives and patriots must read Patrick J. Buchanan’s latest and greatest book: “Suicide of a Superpower.” Pat names the conspirators and quotes the admissions of those who rammed the Immigration Act of 1965 through a corrupt Congress, a measure which future historians may regard as the death warrant of the United States. For boldly releasing this book, Pat was fired by the People’s Commissars of Political Correctness at MSNBC. They said that the subject matter of his book was “not fit for a national dialogue” while welcoming Al Sharpton to the network as a commentator.
DEMOGRAPHICS not economics will decide this election. The GOP has just been handed the election winner…they had better run with it and hard.
Edward Ruffin
June 16th, 2012
8:32 am
Pure vote buying by obummer. Obummer doesn’t have this authority, it is the legislative branch area of responsibility. See you in court.