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August 15, 2012

New Policy Takes Effect to Halt Deportation of Immigrants Brought to the U.S. as Children 
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A new federal immigration policy takes effect today that could
eventually stop the deportation of as many as 1.76 million undocumented
immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Beginning
today, students, veterans and others under the age of 31 may be eligible
for a two-year reprieve from deportation if they meet certain
conditions. Speaking on Democracy Now! last week, Tom Shea of the New
York Immigration Coalition explained what the Obama administration’s
new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will mean for undocumented
youth.

Tom Shea: "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is not a pathway to
legalization, a pathway to the Green Card or a pathway to citizenship,
unlike the Dream Act. If Congress had passed the Dream Act, it would be
a pathway to people getting their Green Card. Deferred Action for
Childhood of Arrivals is just really a determination by the immigration
authorities that we’re not going to deport you. We could deport you
from the United States, but we’re not going to start deportation
proceedings against you, or if you’re in deportation proceedings,
we’re going to stop deportation proceedings against you, or if you
have..."

Amy Goodman: "For how long?"

Tom Shea: "For two years. During that two year period you could get a
work permit."

 

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