The New Immigration Law.

We are all immigrants, unless you are full blooded Native American.
Did we do things the "right way" when we came here and killed the Native Americans and put them on tiny undesirable pieces of land?

I have zero issue with people who have been living here since they were children, who went to school here, who have been good citizens and not gotten into any legal trouble, being allowed to stay.

The actual DREAM Act says "young people under the DREAM Act can receive work permits and protection from deportation for two years, with the possibility of renewal."

So what?
They will be working and PAYING TAXES and contributing to society legally.
And it MAY make a path way to becoming full legal citizens.

Again, I see no problem.

And is it NOT ages 16 to 30, it is if they were brought into the country under the age of 16, and are still under the age of 30.

They must have been in the country for at least five continuous years, graduated from high school or served in the military, and have a minimal criminal record – no convictions for felonies.

I think it is a good thing, we are NEVER going to stop people from coming here.
We are throwing away money that could go to more important things, and this will allow us to focus on those other issues.

I think they should be deported. The law is the law. NOBODY is special. Keep making decisions like this and the immigration law won't be respected at all. It's amazing today how no one is responsible for their actions (even if it's the parents bringing them here young) today. We're just a society of victims. Pretty sad.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with giving those who came here/were brought here as children being given a chance to become legal citizens. When my mother got remarried over and over, it's not like I had a choice of where she took me.

I have family overseas that have been trying to come over here for the last 10 years but their various work/play/visitor Visas have been denied for all kinds of reasons. They are hardworking, educated, literate nationals who have never had run ins with their countries law enforcement...none of them are even divorced. Yet, they can't come visit me. :(

And yet this country is willing to bend its laws for the illegals that are already here? I guess the operative word is "already".

My opinion? Obviously, border crossers who enter under a cloak of "darkness and despair" are more highly valued than those who do it right, fill out the correct forms and applications, are in contact with the local US Embassy, and try to enter legally. Seems like our gov't has an allergic reaction to those who follow the rules and obey the laws.

There is a running joke in my family...don't come here legally just to visit, come here illegally and you get to stay PLUS you get benefits!

Its a vote grab by democratic politicians. They teach its OK to break our laws as long as you vote for me.

Democrats are willing to sell out our country and drive it into ruin as long as they can stay in power. More giveaways, more lawbreakers and more debt as long as they can stay in power.

Just selfish and self centered, all about me group of people.

Obama ran on a campaign of change and change is all I have left in my pocket. OMG (Obama Must Go)

Good luck to you and yours.

The executive order will apply to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before they were 16 and are younger than 30. They also must have no criminal record, have been in the country for at least five continuous years, have graduated from a U.S. high school or have earned a GED, or served in the military.

Once again, he oversteps himself. This totally unacceptable. There are three equal branches. Judical, Legislative and Executive. Since he's not getting what he wants and is starting to sag in the polls, he figures he will bring in 800,000 votes. Very disappointing but not surprising from this twit.

It's a long overdue start. Anyone recognize these words? Maybe we can live up to them.

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Here in the DC area, this isn't news. We've been seeing coverage for years about kids who were brought here as infants or small children who were or are threatened with deportation. The idea of letting these kids, who have only known the U.S. as a home, stay here is an idea that has been around a LONG time. It's not new. (And not a law!!)

Why punish these kids because their parents committed a crime? By that logic, we should punish the children of (American-born!) criminals too.

These kids are not familiar with their "home" countries. Most of them have never even visited these countries. Some of them don't speak the language well. So if they are deported they are going to countries where they may not have good language skills (goodbye, even menial jobs); they will be culturally totally out of place; they do not even necessarily have relatives there and certainly not friends. Some people are assuming these kids, if deported, would go home to great jobs due to their American educations and would be immediately in the comfort of their extended families. Not necessarily true, from the many accounts I've read of kids in these situations. In our area, which is all about academics and competitive schools, some of these illegal kids are high up in their classes and accepted at colleges already. They could contribute good things here.

And many of them would be deported to countries where crime is high. They'll be perfect crime victims -- assumed by criminals to have money (which they don't necessariily have) and confused by being dumped into a new culture.

Their parents brought them here when the kids were too young even to know what was happening. If these kids study and stay out of trouble with the law, why should they be punished for that? Let the law deal with the parents, but the kids didn't ask to be brought, and sending them away will set them up to fail in the countries where they end up. So the U.S. loses a potentially useful, educated person and the receiving country gains...what? A well-educated person, maybe, but one who may have no support system and no chance at a job despite the education.

If folks could read the individual, personal stories of some of these kids, they might not be so quick to shout, "Deport them all." We just this week read about one girl who is an honors student, never in any trouble, liked and honored by her teachers, but who was told she would be deported 48 hours after graduation. She was brought here at age four. She's never been back to her parents' country and knows little about it. At four, how much of a criminal do you really think she was?

I was just watching the news about this.

I have a friend who was brought here illegally by her mother. She's been here since she was 12, and she's been my friend since she was 13. She doesn't know anyone in her country of origin, and the people she did know are either dead or in the US. If she was deported, what would she do? She's been in this country longer than her country of origin. You wouldn't even know she was from another country unless she told you. The only thing that's standing in her way to become a citizen is money. That's a whole other ball of wax (she's had the money a million times over) as to why she's never bothered to do it. Why do people have it lodged in their heads that Hispanics are the only people who immigrate illegally? Every illegal immigrant I've come across hasn't been.

I mean, if I think of things in black and white the answer is obvious. If you value your stay here, you'll stay out of trouble. However, people who have been here since they've been a child really don't get it. I don't think they truly realize how precarious their situation is. I don't think anyone goes out with the saying, "I'm committing a felony today! Get my papers ready."

Sometimes I think, was it like this way 50 or 60 years ago when my grandparents were trying to carve out a living for themselves? My gram tells me stories of coming up during the Jim Crow era in South Carolina, and it's pitiful and depressing how humans act towards one another. If some would have had it their way, I wouldn't even be able to live where I live, talk to the people I talk to or have a choice when it comes to where I work...still, to this day, and some people would be puuurfectly okay with that. That's pretty scary to me.

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

EDIT: I'm sure if you gave your family tree a good shake, a few illegals would fall out. Since the inception of this country, there has been illegal immigration.

Your profile says your husband is from Amsterdam.

Are you upset b/c it's Obama (Bush proposed something similar), or that the rules have changed so that these immigrants get to avoid the challenges others before them have faced?

I'm glad my ancestors were allowed to immigrate here.
German and Irish, and not always legally.
You better believe the REAL Americans wanted to keep THEM out (Native, that is.)
<sigh> So many Americans want to blame the immigrants (and/or poor people) for everything, while corporations are happily and legally using our government as their own personal unlimited source of credit at a GROSSLY higher cost :(

I just learned about the DREAM act in a college class that I am taking. It's been in the works for a while now. I fully support it.

It's meant for kids whose parent's brought them here (Meaning, they had little choice in the matter). They grew up here, it's their home. Yet, they can't get a decent job or join the military because of something their parent's did. If they try to become legal, they run the risk of getting deported and sent to a place that they probably don't even remember.

It may be a political thing, obama trying to get more votes, but I don't think it is. This (Like his support for gay marriage - Which I also support) is going to piss off more people than it's going to make happy. The majority of people that this will make happy are those illegal immigrants and I'm pretty sure that they can't vote. So where's the logic in that?

This is actually not a new law. It's a new way that the administration is going to interpret the current law. Also, the new interpretation doesn't allow illegal immigrants to become legal or receive a visa any different than what is done today (which, by the way, is virtually impossible. If a person is here illegally there is almost no way to gain citizenship. So these people are in limbo). Anyway, the new interpretation says that people who entered this country illegally as children who have completed high school and either attended college or served in the military (and haven't committed any crimes) will not be deported for the next two years. The thinking is that two years would hopefully be enough time for Congress to pass the DREAM act or some other sort of immigration reform.

Personally, I'm all for it. There are almost 800,000 young adults who were brought here by their parents illegally. They grew up here and continue to live here. I don't see why they should be deported to a country they don't know because of choices their parents made. Also, if these people can now legally get jobs, they can contribute to society. I think it's an all around good change.

Guys: None of us wants people to get free rides. But lets be clear on the facts. This isn't a new law. This decision IS within the power of the President no matter if we like it or not. And none of the 800,000 people affected can vote in the Presidential election. They're not citizens. They have no chance of becoming citizens, either before or after the announcements today.

Political stunt. Just like the accusations that the GOP is at war against women, the sudden shift in the gay marriage issue, fighting states tooth and nail over voting procedures that attempt to reduce voter fraud, and now they are going after the Hispanic vote. The reason he is doing this now?? Because people have been discussing how Marco Rubio would be a good choice as Romney's running mate. Panic mode. They NEED the Hispanic votes. Timing is everything. It looks obvious now but would have looked worse if he did it after Rubio was named. Not saying he will be but...
Obama's team is desperate. He actually fell back on blaming Bush again yesterday. He takes NO responsibility for the poor state of our economy or the debt he has added in 3 1/2 years. He actually thinks if it weren't for him we would be so much worse off. We could have unemployment at 25% and he would STILL be saying things could be worse if he wasn't in charge.
OMG!!

I'm just very relieved that my grandparents on my mother's side immigrated when they did. I'm very relieved that my great-great-grandparents on my father's side immigrated when they did. I'm very, very relieved that my mother-in-law and father-in-law immigrated when they did.

I come from a family chock full of immigrants. I am only 2nd generation American, my husband 1st generation American. If our families had known the rampant bigotry and anti-immigration feelings going on across this country before they came here, in the country that is known for welcoming immigrants from all nations, the country where anything is supposed to be possible for anyone who wants to be free I wonder if I would ever have been born. I wonder if my three beautiful daughters would be here today.

This law has been in the works for ages. The timing is appropriate. Who the hell cares if it's timely for the election? It's going to please many people and piss off even more. Ditto for the President's announcement for officially supporting same-sex marriage. I'm pleased with some things he's done, pissed off at other things because I'm indifferent to him as a President in general. But the fact is that if you hate him, no matter what he does you're going to look at it through that filter of suspicion and hate.

Try looking at the immigration issue as someone who comes from a family of immigrants, and exists purely because of the graciousness of this country's immigration laws.

I wonder what all those people who came into our country and made it what it is and who stood in line at Ellis Island would think. They did it right and were welcomed into the country. To them it was an honor and a very great thing to become an American, the right way. My grandfather was one of them. Now anyone will be coming in with this becoming more and more of an issue. By anyone I mean undesirable people from places that want to see our country gone and those who are criminal, etc. There's no end to it now.

So....then they'd be paying taxes?

Oh yeah--this is just SO wrong....not.
It's not a political "ploy" it's the right thing to do.

And for anyone that's unaware--Mexican illegal immigration has come to a virtual standstill, and has even reversed, with many young Mexicans returning to Mexico.

Mitten will try to counter by running with Rubio.

ETA: Ummm...,it wasnt a "conference" it was a SPEECH--from the Rose Garden. The Daily Caller's Neil Monro had the audacity to interrupt the POTUS while he was a giving a SPEECH. (Remember the Jan Brewer finger in the face, the "you LIE" shout?)
Obama was nothing but courteous in his response (shouldn't have been so nice) in spite of the fact that the right wingers seem to think he doesn't demand the same respect as other POTUSs...hmmm...wonder why?

While reporters were present at the Rose Garden announcement, the president wasNOT expected to take questions.

Even so, at the end of his remarks, the president attempted to address Munro’s concerns. “The answer to your question, sir — and the next time I prefer you let me finish my statements before you ask that question — is this is the right thing to do for the American people,” he said.

Just setting the "conference" record straight here.....

I get that it's the ones that have graduated and are law abiding citizens but my question is, how come they can't go through the process of becoming legal? Why should our gov't make it okay for them not to? My thoughts are simply this, it's just a ploy to get more votes. I mean come on, think about the timing? You can't tell me that has nothing to do with it. Am I surprised? Nope not at all. Just my opinion.

Added: What's he going to campaign on??? The economy? The housing market? LOL.....He has to turn the focus somehow, so why not something like this?

I'm torn. On one hand, I say if they came here illegally, then they need to go back and apply for legal residency.

BUT working in criminal defense, I have seen families torn apart because the parents are illegal but the kids were born here. I know of one family and I am sure there are thousands more where mom and dad were deported leaving three children here. The oldest was 18 so now this poor 18 year old is responsible for raising and supporting herself and two siblings.

I guess if they have a high school education or at least GED so they are employable, then okay. AFter all, we'll never get them all rounded up and deported so at least this way they will be paying taxes, and be required to have health insurance like the rest of us.

Look- these children had no choice at the time they came here. They were NOT adults when they came to this country illegally. It's a totally different situation that someone who made their OWN CHOICE to come here as an adult. They should have to go through the motions to become a citizen because they came here under their own accord. There is a big difference here.
The fact is that more illegal immigrants were deported under the Obama administration than any other president. This act will effect such a small percentage of illegal immigrants and is a starting point to fixing a really bad problem. At least he is doing something. All I have heard the other side say is that they want a long term solution or a temporary solution which translates to "We don't want to do anything different". I haven't heard any other solution coming from the opposing side, as usual. Just a lot of talking heads.
I don't see how this is a play for votes. Obama already has a significant percentage of the Hispanic vote in particular. And so what if it is? This is helping this country begin to move forward on this issue instead of sitting around whining and complaining about it.

Just read your SWH and now I understand better. Legal immigration is for those who can afford it,and THESE people can't. Its like President Obama is a throwback to Abe Lincoln who wasn't all about the rich.
For years we've turned a blind eye to illegal immigration. You really think the US couldn't have stopped it? You really think our government doesn't have the power to stop illegals crossing the border from Mexico?? You're crazy. We've let it happen because it helps us. because they do the jobs no one else wants and don't collect SS and benefits. Because that's how our economy is running. and has been running since Chinese came in to build the railroad (maybe earlier, I'm no historian) Let's not reward those who graduated high school. Lets just hire the drop outs to be landscapers, cleaning ladies and cheap nannies so we can pay them less than citizens. Let's keep using them for cheap labor, not giving them any rights and send them back when ever we feel like it. It's the American way. OOh better yet, let's pretend Mexico has weapons of mass destruction and start a war. Bush will tell you how its done.
How do you know for sure all your ancestors came here legally? When my mom's grandfather got alittle senile he started talking about his fears of being deported because he had come here illegally (from England or somewhere in Europe) It did happen and they did NOT talk about it, you would not have been told as a child about the skeletons in your closet, maybe not all your ancestors came here and pushed out the native americans legally.

Well, I don't believe it's going to ever become a law...so there's that. The government can still deport anyone here illegally, should they choose.

For the record...I am against free rides, for people who enter our country illegally.

And, yes. Convenient timing. That will NOT win him any votes around here, that's for sure. Maybe, in places that aren't completely bled dry from immigration. Not here!!

I have personally known of alien children who were here not of their own accord, but of their parents. It is an unjust situation.

It is also unjust to ask the American people to foot the bill.

It is unjust to exploit the situation for cheap labor. Who built many of the new (supposedly cheap) homes of the last 10-12 years? Who picks the produce? Who nannies the children?

IMHO it is unjust to effectively legislate via executive order. Congress can't come to a resolution on immigration so we're stuck with a President who decided to take matters into his own hands for whatever reason - good, bad or indifferent.

Once again the American people are being played against each other, and our neighbors to the south.

It all stinks. :(

I hate globalization (though I love my fellow man no matter where he/she is). I hate that we can't be a sovereign nation anymore. I hate that our legislators have sold us out to multi-national corporations. I hate that we pay more attention to the NBA finals than we do to this stuff.

Regardless of the immigration laws and the possible changes. Don't kid yourself people, if your worried about illegals coming here and abusing the system and getting free rides, all you need to do is look next door. There are plenty of citizens already taking the system for what it's worth......

Technically it is not a law -- wasn't passed by Congress. It's not even an Executive Order, which has the same effect as a law. It's a change in policy which the President has the authority to do. AND it does NOT GRANT THEM LEGAL STATUS. What the policy change does is grant a two-year reprieve from deportation and the chance to apply for a work permit (not a visa); other restrictions apply too. Hopefully in 2 years Congress will be able to get their heads out of their you-know-where and come up with a workable, effective immigration policy (that's the only opinion I'll share). Just wanted everyone to make sure they know what the change really is before getting all lathered up over what it isn't.

Okay from what I quickly read, and it was the Wall Street Journal so not liking Obama in the first place, it doesn't sound like a law. Laws require and act of congress signed by the President. Congress has nothing to do with this.

The second important point is they get deferred action. In other words they are not deported right now, we still reserve the right to deport.

In other words it means nothing so not sure why you are asking about it.

We are working towards the one world government. Borders will eventually be gone because it's too hard to control, civil rights got in the way.

I suspect we may even see our monetary system switch to the euro.

Lots of things are going to change in the next few decades.

Really not sure what this has to do with parenting...

It seems a little bit like because the process has been a lot of work for you and quite expensive that it would be unfair for it to be easier or cheaper for anyone else. While this is true that it would be unfair, maybe the process is unfair.

One of the points I hear quite often in the immigration debates is that this is the law and we are talking about people who have broken the law. It's a shame that we don't talk about whether or not the law is a good idea to begin with or whether or not changing the law or making it easier or making it less expensive or doing anything to make becoming a US Citizen an overall simpler process.

People will say, "My great-grandparents were from Germany, but they came here legally." Yes, but it used to be as simple as walking off the boat and saying, "Hi, I'd like to be a citizen," and that was pretty much it.

Why does it have to be so hard, so expensive and so much harder for those who are desperate for a better life?

It's a political stunt.
And it gives no incentive for legal immigrants to come here. The legal ones are the good kind. They aren't breaking laws to get here.
If you want to be American GREAT ! but do it the right way. Do it legally.

If you aren't doing it legally, we don't want you . We don't need more criminals.

I vote for people who not only say what I want to hear but do what I want them to do. I support this change in policy, as well as many other things he has accomplished. Most people think like me (they vote for people they agree with), so saying he did this for "political reasons" is a straw man argument. Now, if he would just legalize pot...

We might as well be sharing our opinions about "Abortion" here, because the issue of "undocumented (illegal) immigrants" is just as polarized. Whatever is your highest context will reflect in your answer.
For e.g.
HIGHEST CONTEXT - we should not reward illegal immigration
ACTION/OPINION - therefore, no matter what the circumstance -deport

HIGHEST CONTEXT - children should not be held accountable for the actions of their parents/caretakers
ACTION/OPINION - if these kids committed no other crime, this "pause" in deportation is humane and fair considering their circumstances

HIGHEST CONTEXT - Obama is an awful president, he must go
ACTION/OPINION - whatever Obama says is good, is probably not!

HIGHEST CONTEXT - I or my family immigrated legally/"right"
ACTION/OPINION - therefore, all those doing it any other way, is "wrong"

Obviously these points and perspectives that we all share are based on OUR realities, what we went through personally, who we know, what are politics are, our interactions with others, our economic situation, etc.

So, since this question doesn't ask for a true-discussion on an overwhelming issue (as it shouldn't on mamasource) I too want to share my two-cents!

Being on this site, I choose to look from the perspective of a mother. If I lived a country where my children were going to either starve to death or be killed by war criminals or drug lords - and like most want to give my children "some change/hope" for a better life, then I too would go anywhere I could, legally or illegally for my children. I choose to believe, this was the circumstance for many-these kids have been here and the majority that will be affected by change, are already Americans.

It may not be their fault being brought here as children but they are now older and know better. I think it should be that they have a certain amount of time to get on the legal path...and should not face the threat of deportation if they are on that path. Give them a couple years to get on the path to citizenship and if they don't, then they don't deserve the benefits that come with being a citizen. My grandparents had to have a job, learn the language and have a sponsor before they could come here. They did it legally! They did not come with their hands out. Why are we not learning from other countries how to handle this?

No, this act should not go thru. Obama just bought himself 800,00 plus votes. The dream act also should not be passed as worded. It does not mean these 800,000 would be paying taxes, it mean that 50% are still going to be in some sort of financial assistance from the governement as our economy is so bad to begin with.

we need to shut the border to all to save our contry. it has been a long time coming. We are drowning in capitalism and greed. we are also drowning saving the world first before our own citizens.

did you know any illegal immigrant can get free healthcare here? but for the average citizen born here, the foreclosure rate on homes is highest due to their inability to pay health bills?

Im sorry, but to save my country and build assets for my children, we all need to be a little less politically correct.

as i just said in the church question, publicity stunt for sure. very convenient political timing.
that being said, i still think it's a good thing.
:) khairete
S.

I am glad. I say it is about time as well. First, my understanding is that the "law" or purpose is to stop the deportation proceedings and prevent auto deportations of those that were brought here by their parents as children. The person would be given permission to stay for 2 years with the ability to apply for a work permit. They would still have to apply for permits, visas, citizenship. It is not billed as automatically granting citizenship. I think that is what has people in arms. Others want any immigrants that have expired visas or work permits or not to be deported no matter what. I think there are 2 extremes and extremes don;t work.

I would definitely think differently if the idea was to given automatic citizen ship to anyone brought here before they turned 16. Here is one of the things I think about when this comes up: My husband has a friend whose nephew was brought here when he was just under 3 yrs old. His mom died when he was 7. His father was killed in an auto accident when he was 10. He never got citizenship and was deported when he was 13. He was sent to live with an aunt. He was brought up with little Spanish spoken at home because his parents wanted him to be proud to be in America. (another sore spot for my husband and his friend since Mexico is also in America) The boy lives with his aunt, does not speak Spanish, gets teased at school and is not considered a "real Mexican" by other boys his age. he tells his uncle that he does not belong anywhere. His uncle is trying to adopt him so he can sponsor and bring him back here.

I think Cheryl O. said it in a nutshell. :-D

Law? Do you have a reference? I would like to see how "hispanic" is referenced. There are immigrants from all over, while I understand the volume and focus has been on hispanic.

This is not the place for this kind of question