AJC Applauds President Obama for Granting Deferred Action to DREAM Students
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AJC applauds President Obama’s announcement today of new Administration policy to stop deporting undocumented youth from the U.S. who would qualify for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
“President Obama’s decision will enhance educational opportunities for deserving students, level the playing field for all children, and bolster America’s role as a leader in the competitive global economy,” said Richard Foltin, AJC’s Director of National and Legislative Affairs.
There are an estimated 50,000-65,000 undocumented students who graduate from American high schools each year. “Many came to the U.S. at a young age, have grown up in American schools, developed American values, and are American in every sense except their citizenship,” said Foltin.
Following President Obama’s announcement today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin a process for granting “deferred action” to undocumented youth who are in the U.S. and would otherwise qualify for relief under the version of the DREAM Act passed by the House of Representatives in December 2010.
Eligible individuals – including but not limited to those who are currently in deportation proceedings – will be allowed to remain and work in the U.S. for a renewable two-year period.
“While granting deferred action to these students is an important step towards desperately needed reform of our immigration system, we will continue to advocate for legislation that establishes a permanent path to citizenship for these DREAM Act students,” said Foltin.
Citing a UCLA study that concluded that DREAM Act participants could contribute $1.4-$3.6 trillion to the U.S. economy during their working lives, Foltin continued, “These students are vital to our nation’s future. Allowing them to stay in the United States not only benefits them, but also enhances America’s rich, vibrant, and diverse culture.”
Since its founding in 1906, AJC has been a strong voice in support of fair and generous immigration policies that are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals with respect, while allowing the United States to implement its immigration laws and protect our national security.
Whew! This is one hot potato! I agree ‘in principal’ that the son should not bear his father’s (mother) guilt, I have a great deal of difficulty in applying the ‘educational’ opportunites to 30 yrs olds & with the younger children given a hall pass, who will be taking care of them….after all, the paarents are sill ILLEGAL. This is not a depends ‘what is is”, AMNESTY is AMNESTY, just as a rose is a rose. Israel has long been the only arab nation to offer citizenship on arrival & while I find that most commendable, I wonder if the AJC has fully considered the increased difficulty of arriving at a ‘Constitutional” agreement will be with this EO. Our Beloved President Regan wanted to secure the border,reform policies & give amnesty. The cart got ahead of the horse with the amnesty leading. The rest has been cast into the proberbial ditch & we see what that has cost. This will only serve to increase the growth of an already out of control situation. We have given over 365 days a year to trick or treat nite to include a map to the closest social service office. Frankly, it’s time to shut the door & turn off the porch light!
It’s unfortunate that many of these parents chose to be illegal trespassers & this would appear to be a humane method for the children. In reality, many of them have done & do far worse than trespass. So it bears the question…How ‘humane’ is it to force legal American citizens to live in fear..not freedom?