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Subscribe to RSSJose Diaz-Balart of Telemundo discusses the immigration order with MSNBC-TV's Alex Wagner, NBC News' Luke Russert, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet and BuzzFeed editor Ben Smith.
The Obama administration's announcement Friday that it would defer deporting most young illegal immigrants poses a dilemma for those who are eligible, as they must take a leap of faith that they won't jump to the head of the line for deportation if a future president rescinds the order.
Under the order, the Obama administration wouldn't seek to deport illegal immigrants under 30 who entered the U.S. as children and meet certain other residency and education requirements for the next two years. They also would be eligible to apply for work permits, the Department of Homeland Security said. DHS is the parent agency of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The order could apply to as many as 800,000 young illegal immigrants, officials estimated. The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, said later that even more immigrants — as many as 1.4 million children and young adults — could meet the eligibility requirements. That would be about 12 percent of the 11.2 million illegal immigrants estimated to be in the U.S. as of 2010.
But it's not at all certain how many of them will seek to take advantage of the order. That's because it requires eligible immigrants to step forward and ask for the deferment every two years.
Even though President Barack Obama said Friday that the order would "lift the shadow of deportation" over illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. while they were children, a future administration could choose to overturn the regulation, jeopardizing those who have identified themselves to the government as illegal immigrants.
A senior administration official, who briefed reporters on the policy Friday on condition of anonymity, conceded that "the executive can always change its mind about how to exercise discretion."
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For Yelky Ramos, 20, a recent college graduate who came from the Dominican Republic when she was 13, the change means she should be able to get a job.
"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," Ramos told msnbc.com.
Even before Obama appeared in the White House Rose Garden to discuss the order Friday afternoon, Democratic campaign officials were trying to place responsibility for any such "trap" on Republicans, sending reporters "talking points" highlighting previous statements on immigration by Mitt Romney.
Romney, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, has said he would veto an immigration bill known as the DREAM Act, which would enact many of the policies the White House announced Friday. The measure has passed in the Democratic-led House but has been blocked in the Republican-led Senate.
The memos were meant to get the message out that a vote for Romney — who trails Obama by a significant margin among Latino voters — would be a vote to rescind Friday's order.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano told NBC News that there was no immediate danger of applicants' being targeted for deportation, saying the order would be binding for the next two years regardless of who is president. That means Romney, if elected in November, could overturn it as early as 2014, however.
Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, praised Obama on Friday for "taking action to avoid further injustices against young people."
But "a legislative remedy is still needed," he said.
Until one emerges, illegal immigrants must meet a narrowly specific set of requirements to be eligible for immunity, which DHS outlined in an eight-page document Friday:
- They must be younger than 30.
- They must have been brought to the U.S. before their 16th birthdays.
- They must have been in the country for five continuous years.
- They must have no criminal history.
- They must have graduated from an American high school, earned an equivalent degree or served in the U.S. military.
- They must pass a government background check.
Read the full DHS document (.pdf)
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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The good thing is, once they register there is a record. And when a new administration comes in and throws out 'dear leader's" executive order, they will be easy to find for deportation. When are americans going to have enough of this fool in the white house, who is going out of his way to make sure Americans remain unemployed while he creates job programs for illegal foreign nationals?!
When they start losing their jobs so that an illegal alien can have them.
It's okay to be for this policy when it doesn't affect you, but once it does, now THAT'S a DIFFERENT story.
Law Shmah, I laugh at the law. I'm Barack Obama, I don't have to obey, OR enforce the law. DOMA? What's that? I refuse to enforce that law. I don't like that law. Eric Holder wants to sell guns to Mexican drug cartels that kill our border patrol agents? Whatever. Eric's my man. Immigration law? Ha,ha, ha, stop it, you're killin' me. You expect me to enforce immigration law? I'm Barack Obama. Do you not know yet who I am? Next thing you're going to tell me is that I took some kind of oath, or somethin'. Get real, I'm Barack Hussein Obama.
Lawsuit already being prepared to STOP OBAMA'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.......GO REPRESENTATIVE KING!!!
ROMNEY/THUNE 2012
OBAMA ONE AND DONE.
No real ideas of his own - the el pre$1dente - he steals this idea from Mark Rubio and also bypasses Congress with an executive order (instead of legislation by Congress) - also bypassing states rights to defend their borders. This order will come back to haunt 0h blay - m0h very soon. While a good idea it lacks legislation and funds from taxation (unemployed will increase as more invade our borders anticipating el pre$1dente will $urrender. What's with the age discrimination? Any ethnicity, nationality, culture, may now apply for work visa. How will age (30 or less) be enforced - 0h blay m0h has yet to prove his age or citizenship. Elders are being discriminated against and have less rights to stay in US than 30 year old children.
Buttwheat should be deported with the illegals.
The slug is a disgrace.
Since the Kenyan broke the biggest law in the 1st place--by becoming an ILLEGAL PRESIDENT---what's another million illegal immigrants committing fraud on college apps or military entrance exams? (are you an illegal citizen---"no." WRONG!) But serious...if the Kenyan can do it....why not? Our country is being raped.
Now watch the flood of undocumented muzzlimzz flow. This isn't at all about Mexicans. It's a smokescreen.
I know some farmers from Mexico who work extremely hard here in New England. They work without complaining and have great respect for everyone around them. They are courtious, polite, and inteligent. I know because I worked side by side with them when I lost my job in software development. These are jobs that kids these days will not take. Maybe it's TV and video games, maybe it's laziness, maybe they just don't need money. Two of these guys were returning this season after spending the Winter with their families when they were caught crossing the border. Now they are in a privately run prison and have had to attempt to make contact with freinds and family to get money. Why do they need money? They are not getting fed nearly enough and are wasting away. This prison is not in Germany. It is in Texas. Hopefully that comparison pisses enough people off to draw attention so something changes. I agree with Obama that these changes will not only be beneficial but more importantly are the right thing to do.
whether or not illgals 'work hard' is beside the point.
send them home.
mexico has lower unemployment and higher gdp growth than the us. they will be fine.
AND this is why President Bush tried to get the temporary "work visa" for the migrant workers but NOOO the Democrat Congress said NO.
Smart move by the Obama administration and this has pissed off the extreme right. Mitt has been out courting the Hispanic vote recently because they know the GOP will need them this November. Well, they certainty will not get them now.
My democrat friends in Chicago told me appears desparate. Tehy worry he needs to do more of this stuff to keep from sliding in the poll and lose election. I am a supporter but not happy with the way things are going. I dont like what he did today. Will still vote casue I am a proud demicrat.
MaxfromScottsdale: Be careful what you wish for.
ProudDemicrat: OMG, you're NOT happy but you'll still vote for a him only because he's a Democrat, what is that all about?
He is giving jobs to 800,000 illgeal people. I'm still waiting for my job and free health. My family members are looking for work. Lots of people are to. Now we have to compete with illegals for those jobs. If they are illegal, then Mr. president, please do your job and hold up the law. Not a very proud demicrat today.
Just think of where America will be if this despicable piece of garbage wins re election.
THERE WILL BE NO AMERICA!
mexico has a 5% unemployment rate. america is 8.5%, really, about 12%.
mexico's gdp will grow faster than the us this year.
send the kids and their parents home - they have absolutely no right to be here.
Anything shortofdeporting ALL Illegal Immigrants means the Federal Government is aiding and abetting in allowing fugitives from justice to live illegally here in the USA!!!
Obama is violating his oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
Illegal is illegal.
Crimes committed by illegals would never be committed if they weren't here illegally!!!
Running from the law - illegal.
Being here without the law abiding American citizens knowing about it - illegal.
Holding down a job without a green card / SSN - illegal.
Do I need to go on any further???
Go home and try the legal form of immigration!!!
If you are here illegally you are already a criminal.
Illegals should be forced to pay back the US for any services they used while here and be deported.
Start the volunteer effort to round em up, check papers at every state border. Someone else did that 70 years ago. Move to Arizona, their crackdown is solving the problem.
S tu pid n Ch ie f has done it again!.....What jobs are these 800,000 immigrants that are granted a green card going to do? Work in the fields? This pres n ch ief/dic ta tor is full of useless ideas....And guess what, a majority of the pitiful Am er icans that voted him in will vote for him again.........Go Romney.....
Yes, just keep doing what they have been doing, steal a soc sec number and work anyway. How about cracking down on the Extra Greedy Job Creators that need slave labor for extra profit.
Another un-constitutional act by a President who swore in front of the country to uphold the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic...except himself.
If they want to live in America so bad then let them go about it the legal way. If they don't want to become LEGAL CITIZENS of this country then get your F'n ass back in your own country! And take obama with you!
Hmm election year, oh yeah, Dream Act, Bi-partisan opposition, so Hussein cannot get it thru Congress so he evades the Constitution and does an executive order. Wonder what else he has up his sleeve once he has the flexibility to do so after the election. But, hey, we are so stupid, we deserve it.
Obama is illegal, and its way past time to deport his muslim a$$ out of America; he is destroying America just as he said he would, why were you fools who voted for him not listening????
To much agent orange I see, WAKE UP IDIOT.
do you know why it took so long for bam bam to produce his birth certificate?
the ink wasn't dry.
lol
tryreality: that name doesn't fit your response, but it does point to one of the fools I mentioned above!
How about we add that they must also become US Citizens to that list of requirements.........only fair.
Hmm, think its time for a quick history lesson. Question, who are the REAL inhabitants of this land? Who did we forcefully take it from? Lastly, what does it say about us when we scream for democracy across the world, yet we cant recognize basic human dignity in our own backyard? Or do you people really think its the "moral thing" to do to force kids to live on streets in countries where they know no one? Thats what makes me laugh..the same people that say abortion is wrong, think kicking kids on onto the streets where they will likely fail to survive is just...lol i have a word for you people to learn...HYPOCRISY
Nope......those points have absolutely nothing to do with what is happening today.
The real inhabitants of this land are the insects.
And we haven't taken it forcefully from them, they are still everywhere in the zillions.
Even Washington DC is infested with cockroaches........really BIG ones, that stand on two legs!
When my kids seat get's taken by an ILLEGAL getting funds from the state or feds on the taxes I pay, that's when the little child needs to be here legally. An imigrant monkey is a whole lot different than an illegal alien. This isn't about the tweaker, or the black, or the white guy. It isn't about race, it's about LEGAL. And when you instill in a child, youth, or yes even an adult that we have a President rewarding for being illegal it's sets the tone for future concern.
Nobama 2012!!!!!!!
so the "BLack Experiment" fails to enforce the law of the land and his oath of office !
ENFORCE the laws of this country or resign!
2012 is going to be a Black and White Vote on the issues!
Done with the "BLack Experiment" mistake and wasted vote in 2008!
Obama was elected in 2008 because he is black.
Obama may be unelected in 2012 because he is useless.
get ready for the MSDNC back pedal.
Monday's headline... What the president meant to say was...
blah, blah, blah
A reporter from the Daily Caller tried to ask President Obama about American workers today and was shot down. You can read his coverage here and here.
A Washington Post reporter also considered the impact the rule would have on struggling Americans (stoy here).
Sadly, most of the rest of the mainstream media ( including MSNBC!) has refused to ask the question that the President doesn't want to answer.