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Damian Dovarganes / AP
David Buenrostro, Adrian James, and Jahel Ramos protest outside the Obama campaign offices in Culver City, Calif., Thursday, June 14, 2012.
While some illegal immigrants and their advocates heralded the Obama administration’s announcement Friday that it would no longer seek the deportation of most undocumented youth, others expressed skepticism, saying it was a grab for Latino votes and wouldn’t make a big difference.
“We’ve been hearing for a long time that this administration is supportive of undocumented youth, he supports the Dream Act, always says it. But at the same time, we’re literally fighting deportation case after deportation case,” said Mohammad Abdollahi, one of the founders of National Immigrant Youth Alliance. Abdollahi said he was “very skeptical” of the announcement and didn’t “buy it at all.”
Abdollahi spoke with msnbc.com from the Obama campaign office in Dearborn, Mich., which he says he and other protesters had shut down recently in an effort to force Obama’s hand on the issue. Young illegal immigrants also have been occupying such offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the California cities of Oakland and Los Angeles.
Noting that they believed last year’s guidance to give prosecutorial discretion in deportation cases wasn’t helping illegal immigrants, Abdollahi said the new guidelines outlined in the government memorandum released Friday would not provide categorical relief for Dream Act-eligible youth and would be applied on a "case-by-case basis" by local offices who were "very set on deporting each and every one of us."
“If this administration wants to tokenize us, then give us something for it,” he said. “It’s just ridiculous that we have to get deported and he is still winning his Latino vote.”
Obama administration won't seek deportation of young illegal immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security announced 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.
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. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said 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.
Cesar Vargas, who started DRM Capitol Group, LLC, to advocate for people in his position -- he illegally entered the country from Mexico when he was 5 years old -- welcomed Obama’s announcement: “We’re speechless.”
“A lot of the work that dreamers have been doing … it’s showing fruit, so we’re a little bit shocked, a little surprised and definitely excited,” said Vargas, 28.
But he also noted that while it was great that young illegal immigrants were no longer being targeted for deportation, he wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a “political announcement.” He said the White House had called his group and “assured us that it’s a very meaningful process that’s going to be set up.”
“Hopefully, he is serious and I think it’s great, but right now we are going to continue all our campaigns,” he added. “Obviously, he is giving us a reason to fight for him so we’re going to continue our pressure on Mitt Romney 110 percent right now … he (Obama) took a chance with us, you know, we’re going to stand by him.”
Obama immigration order poses dilemma for eligible illegal immigrants
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 Obama favors the legislation, while presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has said he would veto that law.
In the memorandum to immigration enforcement officials, the government said it would not pursue immigrants who met five criteria: those who came to the United States under the age of 16, are no older than 30, are 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.
For Yelky Ramos, a 20-year-old recent college graduate who came from the Dominican Republic when she was 13, the change means she should be able to get a job. That will provide "great relief" to others like her, who have finished university, and provide an incentive to youth in high school, she said.
“We just hope that the way they’re going to implement it is going to be fair to the undocumented youth and it won’t be a trap in which people will be applying for this type of deferral and then find themselves … (in) legal proceedings that might lead to deportation,” she said.
The change won’t have an immediate impact on her parents since, who don’t have any status in the United States and are planning to return to the Dominican Republic.
“They know that immigration reform is very far from happening here in the United States with this political arena,” she said.
Chung-wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, called the move an “amazing,” “historic” victory and said it would "lend huge momentum" to fixing the immigration system.
“ … it’ll change the fundamental direction of where our country is going,” she added. “Now, we’re going towards the kind of reforms that will … really affect the lives and the futures of so many more people.”
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Just saw Obama on TV selling his idea for the illegals. He might as well start backing his bags. I don't think Americans will look upon this favorable.
I agree, it's a bad move for Obama.
There are more votes to lose then to gain with this move.
I guess no one has told Obama that "illegals can vote". What a DA we have.
Apparently, he does not remember the polls on amnesty from less than a year ago. The vast majority oppose it!
Only the prejudice Americans the rest of us are just fine with it.
>> Only the prejudice Americans the rest of us are just fine with it.
So you are apparently in vast minority of the only "Good American's" left in the country "Super Bon".
This is another example of why the country is so divided right now. People get elected to TEMPORARILY hold a public office and they think that means they get do whatever THEY WANT instead of REPRESENTING the will of the we the people and the majority of we the people do not think that anyone should profit from breaking our laws!
The goal of this policy is to get as many people into this nation who are not white because the VAST majority of non-white people are bigots and hate white people, lets be honest here! In fact the ONLY people on this Planet who even try to get along with everyone from every race are those of Western European descent.
Anyone that supports illegal immigrants is either related to an illegal, or they are a business profiting from an illegal or they are illegal themselves.
US citizens shouldn't betray their fellow countrymen over criminal invaders.
Obama is an empty suit
144 days until the election
218 days until Obama vacated the White House
219 days until America returns to the path to prosperity
You mean "austerity" don't you. Gosh your so smart isn't that what Europe is doing .......how's that working out for them duh!
Superban...call it what you want...we cannot continue to spend more than we have...nor can we be caretaker of the world by adopting illegals for political gain.
jpeg
yes good one again!
Business groups in the US have applauded Obama's decision. Well, I am a small business owner, but also a patriot. Businesses applaud the decision because it will enable us to further expand the unemployed workforce and thus artificially drive down wages. As a business owner I would benefit. As an American, I feel very sad for my fellow Americans who have gotten another slap on the face
Mexicans are the most racist group in America today. They only care about their own race and no one else. They will infiltrate our political system and hold hostage good policies that help all races only to bennefit thier own. And they will give this country the bird while doing it. This article is proof of what racist mexicans are willing to do. They are obviously strong arming the presidency on our own soil.
Muslim Arabs are the most racist group in America. I don't support the President but,Mexicans are mostly Catholics and will keep pace with the Muslim birthrate to keep the U.S A. a Christian nation and not an Islamic one. Something to think about folks.
Sounds like Obama figured out a way to get illegals to step forward and register. That should make it easier for the next administration to enforce the law. Obama be gone in 2013, but those records remain. Going down the list and deporting will open quite a few jobs American Citizens need.
All you redneck right-wing war hawks who are too cowardly to serve in the military don't complain about the immigrants who are serving in our military courageously. Go out into the fields work 12 hours under the hot sun and see for yourself if immigrants are lazy. I'm sick and tired of the self-indulgent, self-righteous, pompous right-wing cynics who are allways complaining, blaming liberals and immigrants, and are too lazy to go to work if it means that they'll have to bend over to pick up anything. Sit on your couch, drink your beer, cus at your wife and watch Nascar while you play with your gun while you demean people you don't have the decency to thank for doing the work in the fields and slaughterhouses so you can barbeque.
I think your left wing vitriole just came through in your post. Nobody thinks illegal immigrants are lazy but we also aren't stupid enough to believe they are all working in the fields. Did you read the article or can't you read? These are high school kids, kids going to college and serving in the military, not picking potato's in the field. We have laws for a reason and just because you don't agree with them or your President doesn't agree with them doesn't give you the right to ignore them. Mexico has tougher immigration laws than we do. We cannot afford millions more mouths to feed and the loss of jobs to people who are here illegally.
Isn't serving in our military a path to citizenship? Got no problem with that. And about those young illegals - they don't hit the fields like their parents did. What a self-rightous hypocrite you are! You want to keep illegals down on the farm doing the hard work at starvation prices while you say what a good person you are for encouraging them to be your cheap slaves.
I thought it was quite funny he mentioned agriculture jobs...as if all these "kids" 30 and under are going to flock to the fields to pick fruit and save the farming industry from certain doom.
If we have laws for a reason, then why have not any white collar criminals get investigated and sent to jail?
While we're doing this what will you be doing beside impotently whining on-line and collecting welfare?
What are you doing whining on line? Got your welfare check? I'm self-employed.
AMEN! Great post dls-387641! These people put a label on everyone and everything and when you call them out they retreat back in to their butts. To bad they like the smell there!
What would you have them called super?
I have a perfect label for them....MEXICAN CITIZENS!
No, they are called illegal aliens of the worst kind. Call it what it is.
I tried to keep my mind open about this comming election leaning toward the Obama side.He just knocked me over to the other side.
I actually agree with what he did but not enough to vote for him. If anything, he's polluted the overall immigation debate even more. You'd think obamacare would have taught him that HOW you do something is as important as WHAT you do.
I guess there is joy in the barrios. If I was a lawbreaker in this country and I found out that the government wasn't going to do anything to arrest or prosecute me, I would be ecstatic.
Guess now they know how John Edwards feels!
There are just as many unemployed Democrats as Rupublicans...Obama just sealed his fate.
One and Done.....Thank God!
Compare President Obama's stands: (1) Gay marriage, and (2) work permits for educated undocumented immigrants who want to be here. It takes political courage to do the right thing knowing that it will cost you in the election. The last day of school was today, and it is appropriate to let those graduating that they will not be evicted from this country.
Mitt Romney doesn't have the backbone to take a stand, unless it is approved by the Tea Party, Grover Norquist, Donald Trump or any of his right-wing billionaire contributors.
What does any of that crap have to do with unemployment?
Adding 800,000 more under 30 "kids" is a crushing blow to the LEGAL citizens looking for work.
jpeg - please do us a favor and get yourself educated you are wrong!
Romney doesnt have to. He can just let obama self-destruct. Saying and doing nothing worked pretty good for getting obama elected in the first place. Or have you forgotten about the great community organizer's resume.
Let me see....800,000 eligible.....800,00 more workers. Simple math...maybe you should have paid more attention in school.
Btw....what's this "us" crap? are there more than one of you in there?
He's had three years to do this and done nothing till the re-elction politics get heated up. Typical Chicago politics, if you can't win a vote buy it.
If you can't win a vote, then get a right-wing billionaire to buy the election for you.
dls...there are just as many rich left wingers to help obama buy this one.
Not quite, but we probably both would agee that the Presidency and Congress should not be open to the highest bidder.
Then tell obama to quit pandering to them.
Are you a woman?
Are you an American?
Finally some real immigration reform! My family has struggled so much because of this issue. It’s time that law abiding, tax paying immigrants are given the right to be called Americans, especially the KIDS who had no choice but to follow their parents. God Bless America! I find it so intriguing why people who argue that illigal immigrant are taking their jobs or will, have such low self esteem, i have never heard a person say ¨good luck taking my job, im more qualified, better educated, and have no roadblocks¨ it’s time for this country stand up and quit complaining because good enough is not enough anymore. Unemployment for college graduates in May was 3.9 % It is the people who dint finish high school who are at 13%. Don’t take out on illegal immigrant what your laziness has brought you. These people deserve to be legal Americans.
You mean they deserve to benefit from the crimes committed by their parents and people who follow the rule of law and try to come here legally should just stfu and wait in line? What makes them deserving of being Americans besides it being your opinion. I believe they never deserve to become Americans until they go back home and apply like lawful people do.
What color is the sky in your world moron! Since when has this country treated anyone fairly! If you have the cash you can buy your way out of anything! You know damn well the rich break the law all the time and hardly ever have to take responsibility for it nor are they punished by the law! So get off your high horse and take a look around outside of your little world!
Get ready for the tsunami of illegals, the floodgates have officially been opened and the "for sale" signs posted.
"For Sale By Democrats" -
Trading a vote to keep our political power results in unlimited "freebies" at the expense of everyone already here... hurry up as the nation will soon collapse.
Yea they will filling up all those houses you could not PAY OFF, they will actually take advantage of higher education and eventually be your kids doctors, your wives gynecologist, you bankers. No more Latinos cutting your grass, you lazy bums deserve to be unemployed!
Get ready for the flood gates of foreign lobbyists - the Republicans have already posted a sign "USA For Sale by Republicans" to foreign and offshore corporations. The 1% don't need to worrry, the 99% will be begging to work for minimum wages.
LOVE it! Great post! Don't you know it's ALL OK if the republicans do it.
For those illegals who have illegally taken over those offices: your makeing a great case to kick you out of our country no matter what country your from. Our government should quit screwing around and get these a@#holes out. Remember this when you vote.
Obama Lies, the Illegals should know it by now, along with all the American people.
"Operation Wetback" again, send them all back home.
Well dudes and dudettes... it is impossible to "round 'em all up". Better off going after trouble makers and tracking the others.
Poor tired huddled masses ( and people running from the drug war) ... plus Miithead's grampa
Work Permits? Okay so long as a fully documented American gets first crack at the job an undocumented youth is applying for. I don't know how work permits work for immigrants but I will assume that the payroll taxes are the same as for non immigrants, meaning they pay taxes! So now that Obama has pulled this one out, what's the situation with their undocumented parents?
The people that hire undocumented workers are the crooks, the do not pay dues nor report the earnings from hiring illegals. The GOP needs to stop blaming the symptom and look at the root cause.
Illegals work or you would see them homeless on the streets. while they work they pay rent to live somewhere that means they're paying their "property taxes". They also spend their income here, therefore paying "sales tax".
Undocumented workers are not arrestable, they get their day in court. Employers hiring illegals on the other hand should go to jail, that is law.
Those laws could be better enforced if the GOP wasn't blowing all the money on wars, tax discounts for their rich friends and bailing out their buddies at the banks and wall street.
Heck, the GOP wants the federal govt to enforce but yet they want to rid of the IRS who are the only ones collecting taxes.
The GOP is for arresting illegals so they can fill their new private prisons.
While Bush failed to secure the borders when going into the 2 wars, Obama sent thousands of troops to the border. He is serious about immigration.
The hyporcicy from the GOP continues, they supported amnesty with Reagan and two Bushes but when Obama speaks about young people who did not commit any crimes they cry foul.
Lotta root causes casues by US policy. Plenty of illegal been working cheap forever here. Better to document and try to find and remove trouble makers
Huh ?!?!? Obama giving amnesty to illegal aliens is a reason to go off on Bush ?!?!?
Another example of Libtardian "Bush Derangement Syndrome"
That is hilarious!
History must NOT repeat itself.
Moving forward means reminding the country of the past.
The more people know how GOP policies ruined this country, the better off we will be.
It's because the TP Republicans keep proposing the same anti-American policies that rip off the working class to provide welfare to the rich and corporations. Who is more American: immigrants who willingly come here to become American even if they break the immigration rules, or the wealthy 1% like Mitt Romney who shelter their wealth in bank accounts overseas so they don't have to pay taxes?
dang iimigants dont look like my inbred family. They must be after a low paying job I don't want to do.
Latinos are not so stupid as to fall for the shallow ploy of confusing legal immigrants with ILLEGAL aliens.
Yet liberals, and Obama, keep talking about them in one breath as if they are the same thing.
Immigrants are people where legal or undocuments; aliens I believe are actors in movies that come from other planets.
Maybe you should research the law and see the definition of "illegal alien"...of course that requires comprehension skills.
So we take it you never looked it up either lmao!
What is this "we" crap...do you have a split personalty?
I've been waiting for a JOBS Bill. I didn't realize it would be for ILLEGAL migrants and not LEGAL residents.
Why is Obama such a "hater". He must hate American laws.
Vote AGAINST the politicians that support ILLEGAL migrants, over LEGAL residents.
Well, Speaker of the House Boener, where are the jobs bills sent to Congress by President Obama?
They are sitting on Harry Reid's desk.
If you're relying on govt to create you a job, good luck with that.
So selective enforcement and turning a blind eye to law breakers merely on the basis of age.....really? So basically with our economy already in the dump, the admistration is basically signing up LEGAL tax payers to foot a heavier bill for people that don't belong here legally??
And who gives a squirt of Pi$$ what the illegals think. They don't pay taxes, so they don't get a voice.
I'm a liberal, but I think this pretty much convinced me not to back Obama in future elections. He messed this up seriously....
President Obama gave amnesty to Dick Cheney and cronies when Spain filed a complaint in the World Court concerning waterboarding torture of Spanish citizens. What's good for the 1% should be good for the 99%. Anybody who works here pays taxes here. It takes political pressure to make any politician take a position and President Obama will take the heat from people like you - perhaps you would prefer an etch-a-sketch stand?
dls...what exactly did obama do? I didn't know he had authority over the world court.
jpeg: He pressured the Spanish to drop their indictment.
The Spanish had no case. The Spanish were not involved in the matter. The Spanish are broke.....just as we are.
Look pegleg when Bush and Cheney are indicted for lying to the American people about WMD then we can talk or that's right when Obama came in to office he would not pursue it Bush owes him one!
Bush is not president anymore...grow up and stop the name calling...oh wait you are grown up. Show the sad state of our education system.
Obama will not only give the "undocumented democrats" amnesty....he will apologize to them and bow!
It's started, Obama will get all the votes, just like Hitler did in Germany 1933. Not only will he have the votes, but his own brown shirt army. This is a slap in the face of all the others that came here the right way.
Dictator, in the works, 800,000 man army and now figure a way to get our weapons, then bend over and kiss where the sun does not shine. Will admit I made a mistake once , but never twice, just wish the Republicans had a better man. But he is better than the other choice.
Hitler didn't get all the votes; he made a pact with the conservatives - here's the book:
The Fateful Alliance: German Conservatives and Nazis in 1933: the Machtergreifung in a New Light
On 30 January 1933, Alfred Hugenberg's conservative German National People's Party (DNVP) formed a coalition government with the Nazi Party, thus enabling Hitler to accede to the chancellorship. This book analyzes in detail the complicated relationship between Conservatives and Nazis and offers a re-interpretation of the Nazi seizure of power - the decisive months between 30 January and 14 July 1933. The Machtergreifung is characterized here as a period of all-pervasive violence and lawlessness with incessant conflicts between Nazis and German Nationals and Nazi attacks on the conservative BÃÂrgertum, a far cry from the traditional depiction of the takeover as a relatively bloodless, virtually sterile assumption of power by one vast impersonal apparatus wresting control from another. The author scrutinizes the revolutionary character of the Nazi seizure of power, the Nazis' attacks on the conservative BÃÂrgertum and its values, and National Socialism's co-optation of conservative symbols of state power to serve radically new goals, while addressing the issue of why the DNVP was complicit in this and paradoxically participated in eroding the foundations of its very own principles and bases of support.
Read the book and then read the tea leaves of the Republican Party.
Actually dls, it was the progressive liberals of this country who supported and worshiped Hitler.
Not so.
BBC: Bush's Grandfather Planned Fascist Coup In America
New investigation sheds light on clique of powerbrokers, including Prescott Bush, who sought to overthrow U.S. government and implement Hitlerian policies
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
A BBC Radio 4 investigation sheds new light on a major subject that has received little historical attention, the conspiracy on behalf of a group of influential powerbrokers, led by Prescott Bush, to overthrow FDR and implement a fascist dictatorship in the U.S. based around the ideology of Mussolini and Hitler.
In 1933, Marine Corps Maj.-Gen. Smedley Butler was approached by a wealthy and secretive group of industrialists and bankers, including Prescott Bush the current President's grandfather, who asked him to command a 500,000 strong rogue army of veterans that would help stage a coup to topple then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
According to the BBC, the plotters intended to impose a fascist takeover and "Adopt the policies of Hitler and Mussolini to beat the great depression."
I really could care less about the BBC....the progressive liberals of the country supported and worshiped Hitler. They thought it was a wonderful thing.
Crazy alert! Crazies are out in full force!
did you see michelle and barack?
jpeg - give me your source? LIAR! You are a perfect example of hate spewing lies! You and the ones like you are destroying our country with your lies and hate! I bet your so very proud of your ignorance!
I'm sorry...I didn't spew any hate, nor was I responding to your comment. I'm quite sure dls can defend himself....now go outside and play....the grown-ups are talking.
This is when all you racist bums come out of your rocks, hello to all, I just want to let all of you know that we will not be cutting you grass anymore, cleaning you pool, or serving your food. We will be filling up all those houses you could not PAY OFF, they will actually take advantage of higher education and eventually be your kids doctors, your wives gynecologist, you bankers. Unemployment for college graduates in my was 3.9 % It is the people who dint finish high school who are at 13%. You take out on illegal immigrant what your laziness has brought you. have you such low self esteem, i have never heard a person say ¨good luck taking my job, im more qualified, better educated, and have no roadblocks¨ it’s time for this country stand up and quit complaining because good enough is not enough anymore.
Julian, I don't wish you a happy day. Or better still - not a happy or prosperous life.
Everything is about racism with you isn't it. Thats your whole comeback? Go ahead, work hard, become prosperous. Then I wil move into your house, take advantage of your things and tell you No Comprende' when you complain. I will demand that you feed me, give me money, pay for my kids education and park my car on your lawn. You can't call me a burglar or a thief just an undocumented worker.
BTW.. I will enjoy playing Country and Western music at deafening levels while I cruise in my low rider. I will tear down your flag and burn it, mock you, your beliefs and invite more of my family and friends to come over and live at your expense.
If you think I am going to pay anything you are Pollo Loco
Julian: welcome to America. All immigrants have gone through the WASP hazing.
yeah dls....except the LEGAL ones did it LEGALLY!
jpeg: All legal immigrants went through the WASP hazing - Catholics, Polish, Jews, Germans, just to name a few. The children of these immigrants less so.
No they didn't. The difference also is that those people entered this country legally...making their children LEGAL citizens.
Sorry lady, but looking at the country where moist illegals come from all you'll do is drag us down to the level of the land you ran from. Don't need you to cut my lawn, clean my pool or serve me anything as I do all of that myself, as well as working a 60 hour a week job. You're not as qualified as I am at anything, could never do my job and I was able to accomplish this legally, unlike the criminals you support. Illegals already make up 40% of the prison population of California and every budget cut for needy Americans in California is 100% the fault of illegals and their supporters.
dls has a sad point. I remember reading about really dangerous jobs being given to the irish because black slaves were too valuable to risk. I remember grandpa telling me about the harrassment during WWI-- and grandpa was a doughboy.
the immigration system is so trashed right now. How is it allowing illegals to be instant legals fair to the immigrants who were following the system with patience and family scarifies? This is such a load of political nonsense.
He said they came here for a better life - he forgot to say at the taxpayers expense. Politicians are sleaze bags and I mean all of them.
Anything for a vote. At least now we know the price tag of selling out one's country.
Yeah did you look up the price in the repugnant playbook lmao!
With this announcement and this policy, Obama and his administration are pissing in the faces of all the saps who were stupid and gullible enough to try to enter this country the right way, by obeying our laws.