Executive Order Ceases the Deportation of Young Illegal Immigrants

June 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Washington – One June 15th, President Obama signed an executive order announcing that his administration would cease the deportation of young illegal immigrants, otherwise known as “dreamers.” That same day, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that effective immediately, qualifying illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, who don’t pose a risk to national security or public safety and who meet several criteria, would be considered for relief from deportation proceedings, or from entering removal proceedings. Those young immigrants who meet the criteria will be eligible for deferred action for two years, they will be eligible for renewal indefinitely, and they will be eligible to apply to work in the United States.

“Our nation’s immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner,” said Secretary Napolitano. “But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language. Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here.”

In the Memorandum issued by Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012, she stated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should enforce the Nation’s immigration laws against certain young people who were brought to America as children and only know this country as their home.  She stated that these young immigrants lacked the intent to violate the law, and she also said that additional measures will be appropriately focused on people who meet the enforcement priorities. In order for young immigrants to meet the criteria they must meet the following conditions:

•  Came to the United States before the age of sixteen;

•  Continuously lived in the United States for 5 years before June 15, 2012;

•  Currently in school, has graduated from high school, or obtained a general education development certificate, or honorable discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or the United States Armed Forces;

•  Hasn’t been convicted of a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanors, felonies, or pose a threat to public safety or national security; and

•  They must be below the age of thirty.

The Nation’s immigration laws are intended to be enforced in a sensible manner and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. They are not designed to remove productive young adults to countries where they haven’t lived, or where they don’t speak the language. No one shall receive deferred action until they first pass a background check, and DHS is not guaranteeing that relief will be granted in all cases. For those young immigrants already facing removal proceedings, and that have already met the criteria for deferred action, ICE will being offering them deferred action for two years, subject to renewal.

The Memorandum takes effect immediately, the USCIS and ICE will begin implementing the application process within 60 days. Individuals seeking more information on the policy can visit USCIS’s website at www.uscis.gove , or ICE’s website at www.ice.gov, or DHS’s website at www.dhs.gov . The Law Offices of Lloyd E. Bennett, Esq., P.C. is an immigration law firm located in New Jersey. To contact a New Jersey immigration attorney from the firm, call toll free at (800) 909-8129 or visit the firm’s website directly at http://www.lebpc.com.