President Obama halts deportation for some immigrants
Updated: June 18, 2012
WASHINGTON -- Friday afternoon President Obama announced his administration will stop deporting young illegal immigrants.
"Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people." explained President Obama.
People will be eligible for temporary relief for deportation who came to the United States under the age of sixteen. Also people who are under the age of thirty, people younger than 30-years-old, also those who have lived int he U.S. for at least 5-years. Also people who are currently in school, graduated, served in the military and have no criminal record.
"Now, let's be clear -- this is not amnesty, this is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It's not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people," said the President.
The policy change could affect about 800,000 people. The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum said it's good to hear, but there's still more to do.
"Well it means at least some steps forward have been made. President Obama said this mends the immigration policy and it literally is like a patch on a raggedy pair of pants. It covers something but we need new pants. We need new immigration policy," said Ricardo Diaz with the C-U Immigration Forum.
"Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people." explained President Obama.
People will be eligible for temporary relief for deportation who came to the United States under the age of sixteen. Also people who are under the age of thirty, people younger than 30-years-old, also those who have lived int he U.S. for at least 5-years. Also people who are currently in school, graduated, served in the military and have no criminal record.
"Now, let's be clear -- this is not amnesty, this is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It's not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people," said the President.
The policy change could affect about 800,000 people. The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum said it's good to hear, but there's still more to do.
"Well it means at least some steps forward have been made. President Obama said this mends the immigration policy and it literally is like a patch on a raggedy pair of pants. It covers something but we need new pants. We need new immigration policy," said Ricardo Diaz with the C-U Immigration Forum.
