Post date: Jun 15, 2012 8:45:14 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 15, 2012) ( POOL) - About 800,000 young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children could be spared deportation under new immigration rules announced by U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday (June 15) that may appeal to Hispanic voters in an election year.
U.S. President Barack Obama announces new immigration rules which will allow many young illegal immigrants to stay in the country while they apply for legal citizenship.
"These are young people who study in our schools, they play in our neighborhoods, they're friends with our kids, they pledge allegiance to our flag," Obama told reporters at the White House. "They are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper."
The new rules specifically apply to young illegal immigrants - sometimes referred to as "dreamers" - who were brought to the U.S. by their parents. Often these individuals do not realize that they are in the country illegally until they apply for a job, driver's license, or scholarship, according to Obama.
The move comes as Obama, a Democrat, is courting Hispanics as he fights for re-election on Nov. 6 against Republican Mitt Romney, who has taken a harsh stand against illegal immigration. Obama has long supported measures to allow the children of illegal immigrants to study and work in the United States, but efforts to pass such measures in Congress have failed amid objections by Republican leaders.
The president's action sidestepped Congress and laid down a challenge to Republicans, many of whom view leniency on deportations as amnesty for people who are living in the country illegally.
"This is not amnesty. This is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It is not a permanent fix," Obama said. "This is a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people."
As Obama was speaking to reporters gathered at the White House, one member of the audience interrupted him several times. Obama told the reporter the new immigration rules were "the right thing to do for the American people."
"Here's the reason: because these young people are going to make extraordinary contributions and are already making contributions to our society," said Obama. "I've got a young person who is serving in our military, protecting us and our freedom - the notion that in some ways we would treat them as expendable makes no sense."
To be eligible for the new enforcement rules, a person must have come to the United States under 16 years old and have resided in the country for at least five years. They must be in school or have graduated from high school or be honorably discharged from the U.S. military. They must also be free of convictions of felony or significant misdemeanor offenses.