The Dream has Arrived, Obama Enacts Dream Act Immigration Law
Lighthouse Point, FL (PRWEB) June 21, 2012
President Barack Obama announced his issuance of an Executive Order regarding immigration laws which will provide relief to potentially hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the United States illegally, and through no fault of their own. Under the new program to be administered through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.C.I.S) qualifying individuals may apply for deferred deportation action for two years, subject to renewal, according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security. Many of its provisions mirror those in the proposed Dream Act which Senate Republicans blocked in 2010, but which remains a prominent item on the Presidents agenda.
President Obama explained in his speech on immigration policy, June 15, 2012, that the new policy was intended to mend our nations immigration law policy, to make it more fair, more efficient and more just, specifically for certain young people sometimes called DREAMers. He stressed that these individuals are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper. Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, noted that the countrys immigration laws were never intended to remove productive young people, according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security.
While not identical to the Dream Act, the newly-announced program is available to individuals who (1) are at least sixteen years old, but no older than thirty, (2) have been brought to the U.S. before they were sixteen, (3) have lived in the U.S. for at least the five continuous years before their application, and (4) be currently enrolled in school, have graduated from high school, received a G.E.D., or have been honorably discharged from the armed forces. Potential applicants convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor, convicted of multiple misdemeanors, or who pose some other threat to national security will be ineligible.
The deferrals can be renewed after two years. Successful applicants will be eligible to apply for permanent residency on a case-by-case basis.
Lawyers who represent immigrants welcomed the development as providing a pathway to legal status for young immigrants brought to the U.S. by their parents, and who wish to remain legally in their adopted country. Marc Wites of Wites & Kapetan, P.A., a Florida law firm which provides immigration services, observed that many of the individuals eligible for this program have lived most of their lives in the U.S., and may not even speak the language of their country of origin. They see themselves as Americans, and want to be participate productively in this country. He and his partner, Alex Kapetan, announced that their firm is ready to assist eligible individuals with processing their applications.
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