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BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE
A deportation reprieve for illegal immigrants that meets the criteria under the “Dream
Act” went into effect Wednesday. It gives an estimated 800,000 conditional residency
in the United States with a chance at permanent residency. Instituted via executive order
by President Obama - CNN says this is a bold move.
“It means hope but also risk. Not just for the immigrants but for president Barack Obama.
Critics say this is an election year stunt to win Latino votes...”
Back in June, when it was first announced, President Obama spoke about the requirements
these young men and women must meet to get permanent residency.
“It says that if your parents brought you here as a child; you’ve been here for 5
years, and are willing to go to college or serve in our military you can one day earn
your citizenship.”
When first announced, it was met with intense criticism as the right slammed the executive
order. Critics fear jobs will be taken away from hard working Americans.
But a writer for the Seattle Times says the “Dream Act” is good for ALL Americans.
“They have zero culpability for the predicament they find themselves in. They've been educated
at taxpayer expense, they've completed or are in high school, they have clean records
and they are good kids -- just like their native-born citizen classmates. They are going
to be the taxpayers who can help save our decrepit Social Security and Medicare systems”
Already immigrants are filling up workshops figuring out how to apply. CNN reports in
the Los Angeles district alone more than 200,000 students could qualify. But the network reiterated
how risky it is.
“It's only going to last for two years. ... What's going to happen in January if Obama
is not the president? What's going to happen in August of 2014 if Obama is the president?
The Pew Hispanic Center estimated that up to 1.7 million illegal immigrants could qualify
and the application fee will be $465 to cover the costs of processing the applications.
(USA Today)