Obama administration won't seek deportation of young illegal immigrants

[Smiley-one 13]

By Michael O'Brien, msnbc.com

Updated 10:58 a.m. - The Obama administration announced on Friday that it would no longer seek the deportation of most young illegal immigrants, and would instead allow them to apply for work permits, a significant policy shift with potentially major electoral implications.

The Department of Homeland Security said that, effective immediately, the government would no longer seek the deportation of illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, and would allow them to apply for work permits if they meet certain criteria.

“Our nation’s immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner,” said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in a statement Friday.

A senior administration official said in a conference call with reporters that as many as 800,000 undocumented immigrants stand to benefit from this change. Napolitano said that the shift represented neither immunity nor amnesty -- buzzwords for conservatives who oppose illegal immigration -- but instead represented an instance of "prosecutorial discretion" in which the government had re-evaluated its priorities in enforcing the law.

The announcement represented a major policy shift, and its political implications will be significant.

The shift essentially accomplishes many of the legislative intentions of the DREAM Act, an immigration reform bill that had stalled in Congress due to Republican objections. President Barack Obama favors the legislation, while presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has said he would veto that law.

The new rule comes amid a bruising election year fight between Obama and Romney, in which the Latino vote could be decisive. Obama enjoys a strong advantage with Latino voters, winning 61 percent of Latinos vs. 27 percent for Romney in a mid-May NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll.

The Hispanic vote is of particular importance in swing states like Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida, among others. Those states could swing the election toward Obama or Romney, elevating the importance of the margin between the two candidates with Latino voters.

Obama's biggest challenge, though, has involved motivating Latino voters to turn out for him with the same strength they had in 2008. The president had faced lingering complaints stemming from his inability to advance the comprehensive immigration reform he had promised as a candidate in 2008.

The president was scheduled to make remarks about the immigration policy change at the White House at 1:15 p.m. ET on Friday.

In a memorandum to immigration enforcement officials, Napolitano wrote that immigrants who were illegally brought to the United States as children "lacked the intent to violate the law," and pose few national security risks.

The memo said the government would not pursue immigrants who met five criteria. Individuals must:

•Have come to the United States under the age of 16,

•Be no older than 30,

•Be currently enrolled in school, have graduated high school or served in the military,

•Have been in the country for five continuous years, and

•Have a clean criminal record.

A senior administration official noted that the new rules were not permanent, though, and conceded that a different administration with a different policy could conceivably choose to withdraw this regulation.

"The executive can always change its mind about how to exercise discretion," said the official.

Time Magazine focuses on undocumented immigration in the U.S. in its latest issue with an article by writer Jose Antonio Vargas, who publicly revealed he is an undocumented immigrant. Time's Rick Stengel joins Morning Joe to discuss.

The policy shift presents a challenge for Romney, who ran to the right of some of his opponents on the issue of immigration during the Republican primary. He had opposed the DREAM Act, and explained during a debate that his immigration policy involved "self-deportation."

First Read: Obama leads big with Latinos

That hard-line stance prompted handwringing among Republicans who have long worried about the long-term political fallout associated with alienating Latino voters. Florda Gov. Jeb Bush suggested earlier this week that much of the Republican rhetoric surrounding immigration had been "insulting."

"Change the tone would be the first thing," he said of his advice to Republicans. "Second, on immigration, I think we need to have a broader approach."

Ironically, the Obama administration's new rule would accomplish many of the same goals of a limited version of the DREAM Act proposed by Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, which stops short of offering young illegal immigrants citizenship, but gives them a type of legal status. Romney said he was considering the proposal from Rubio, a popular choice of conservatives to round out the Republican ticket as a vice presidential nominee.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Not surprising that an undocumented Kenyan would have no respect for the rule-of-law. If only Sheriff Arpaio and his posse could show him how Arizona handles such outlaws.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Not surprising at all that he'd not uphold the law. Yup, you're right.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Around 800 EAD's will be issued. Not a very big population.

[AWarr101 0]

Does this include those who entered the country legally and overstayed their visa, or those that came into the country illegally as well?

[natty bumppo 297]

wonder if the unemployment numbers are about to go up .....

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Does this include those who entered the country legally and overstayed their visa, or those that came into the country illegally as well?

No. Read the article. It will be limited to around 800 folks who came here before the age of 16, are currently under 30, have no criminal record, finished high school or served in the US military, and been here continuously for the last 5 years.

Edited June 15, 2012 by ☼

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The new rule comes amid a bruising election year fight between Obama and Romney, in which the Latino vote could be decisive. Obama enjoys a strong advantage with Latino voters, winning 61 percent of Latinos vs. 27 percent for Romney in a mid-May NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll.

The Hispanic vote is of particular importance in swing states like Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida, among others. Those states could swing the election toward Obama or Romney, elevating the importance of the margin between the two candidates with Latino voters.

Team Obama just wants to force Romney's hand on the issue. The GOP base will certainly press Romney to state unequivocally that as President he will reverse course on this policy change. That's exactly what team Obama wants him to say and this is how they make him say it. Election year politics 101.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Mr. Big Dog

[JohnR! 5,495]

Not surprising at all that he'd not uphold the law. Yup, you're right.

How so very Reaganesque of him, isn't it? On a positive note, both sides of the aisle should be in agreement with this policy.

[Kipper 0]

800 ? 800,000, not sure how they got into Military though

[JohnR! 5,495]

Team Obama just wants to force Romney's hand on the issue. The GOP base will certainly press Romney to state unequivocally that as President he will reverse course on this policy change. That's exactly what team Obama wants him to say and this is how they make him say it. Election year politics 101.

It is not a bad idea. I would very much like to hear Romney's thoughts in the issue of immigration.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

On a positive note, both sides of the aisle should be in agreement with this policy.

That's the beauty of it all. The Republicans now have a difficult choice to make: Embrace Obama's approach (not likely to happen) or pizz on their little Mr. Sunshine aka Sen. Rubio of Florida who many in the GOP think would make a swell choice for VP since he'd position the party better with Latinos. It's a pretty brilliant move politically - something Karl Rove could have come up with.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Team Obama just wants to force Romney's hand on the issue. The GOP base will certainly press Romney to state unequivocally that as President he will reverse course on this policy change. That's exactly what team Obama wants him to say and this is how they make him say it. Election year politics 101.

The left is smart when it comes to politics -- they have to be, as they are outnumbered by both independents and conservatives. The conservatives' problem lately is that they are happy to watch the Obama administration continue to self destruct and hope they can get something to stick before the election, instead of presenting a viable alternative plan to the electorate. Nobody wants to tell America what it should already know: We are broke, government is spending more than it takes in revenue and cannot meet its obligations without borrowing money with an exploding national debt, and the world is about to enter another recession, probably before November, possibly before the end of summer.

[JohnR! 5,495]

That's the beauty of it all. The Republicans now have a difficult choice to make: Embrace Obama's approach (not likely to happen) or pizz on their little Mr. Sunshine aka Sen. Rubio of Florida who many in the GOP think would make a swell choice for VP since he'd position the party better with Latinos. It's a pretty brilliant move politically - something Karl Rove could have come up with.

There is a third and winning choice, IMHO. Support the POTUS' on this decision with as they did with Reagan in the 80's. For them to do any differently would only be hypocritical.

Seriously, this is one measure I believe everyone can agree. It doesn't have to be good or bad just because of who came up with it. All they need do in is think of these young men and women who will be able to get their immigration status resolved once and for all.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I would very much like to hear Romney's thoughts in the issue of immigration.

Haven't you been following the primaries? Romney was far right of Gingrich on immigration alienating an improtant slice of voters in key states. He's gotta find a way back to be palatable with the Latinos and many thought that Sen. Rubio's immigration proposal would be the salvation. Only Rubio's proposal has now effectively been implemented and the only way to support it now is to support Obama's decision to pursue this path. Nice catch 22, isn't it? I have a feeling there will be more of this sort of thing in the weeks and months ahead.