Big News for Illegal Immigrant Students

Fox News is reporting that the Obama administration will stop deporting younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. The immunity deal reportedly will grant work permits to people, under the age of 30, who came to the United States before they were 16, have been in the country for more than five continuous years, graduated from high school or obtained a GED and have kept a clean police record. It also applies to any who have served in the military. Under the plan, they reportedly can obtain a work permit for two years with unlimited renewal potential.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the new policy Friday, saying it was effective immediately. The policy reportedly does not grant citizenship, but will enable these students to remain in the U.S. indefinitely.

“Many of these young people have already contributed to our country in significant ways,” Napolitano wrote in a memorandum describing the administration’s action. “Prosecutorial discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here.”

In making it harder to deport, the Obama administration is essentially putting in place the proposed DREAM Act. Although it is reported that illegal immigrant children won’t be eligible to apply for the deportation waiver until they turn 16, it is reported that younger children won’t be deported either.

There are those who are already saying that this is the current administration again circumventing Congress.

So what do you think? About time, or another attempt by the Government to get laws passed without going through Congress?