Thousands of young, undocumented immigrants in the US, including Indians have begun applying for relief under President Barack Obama’s ‘Mini Dream Act,’ that allows them to work without fear of deportation for at least two years.
There are about 30,000 Indians among 1.7 million youths, who entered the US illegally as children. They may qualify for the Programme announced by Mr Obama by an executive order in June, according to the Pew Research Centre.
Long lines formed at help centres and lawyers’ office across the US as illegal immigrants came forward to take advantage of one of the biggest immigration policy changes announced by the US President, who has been accused of wooing Latino voters ahead of the November 2012 election.
When he signed the order, Mr Obama said that the changes under the ‘Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals’ will make immigration policy “fairer, more efficient and more just.”
“This is not amnesty. This is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. This is not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure,” he said.
Republicans denounced the measure, saying the move amounts to amnesty and usurps congressional authority.
Under the new policy, people younger than 30 who arrived in the US before the age of 16, those who do not pose criminal or security threat, those who were successful as students or served in the military, can get a two-year deferral from deportation and apply for work permits.
Participants must prove they have been living in the country continuously for at least five years.
The move addresses a concern of the Latino community and includes some of the provisions of a Democratic proposal called the ‘Dream’ Act (acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) that failed to win enough Republican support to gain congressional approval.
-India Abroad News Service
