AZ poised to greet immigration change Wednesday

Posted: Aug 13, 2012 6:30 PM PDT Updated: Aug 13, 2012 7:05 PM PDT
By Nicole Crites
Posted by Phil Benson
kpho.com

PHOENIX (CBS5) -

An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona will be able to apply for deferred deportation and work permits starting Wednesday.

That's when a new policy President Barack Obama announced on June 15 takes effect. It allows certain young illegal immigrants to avoid deportation for up to two years, with extensions, and seek work permits. The policy mirrors the DREAM Act that failed to pass Congress.

Undocumented immigrant students under 30, who've lived in the states the past five years and were brought over when they were younger than 16, can apply - as long as they don't have a record.

Opponents call it "backdoor amnesty" but supporters say it's not immigration and green cards - it's a temporary policy change to recognize the scope of the nation's broken immigration system.

"It's very sad to see that Congress and politicians aren't willing to solve this problem," said Dulce Matuz, who came to America with her mother when she was only 15. "We cannot continue punishing children for something they didn't do."

Being "undocumented" is not just a tag for her on Facebook. Matuz, an ASU electrical engineering graduate, has become an advocate for DREAM Act students across the nation.

She's been arrested for the cause and has talked with Obama.

TIME magazine just named her one of the year's 100 most influential people.

"People tell me, 'Well, you're the exception, you can stay! But everyone else, they have to leave,'" Matuz said. "No, I'm just one story. There's many, many other exceptional DREAM Act students.

She said Wednesday's changes offering deferred deportation and two-year work permits is promising but not permanent.

"It could be that there's a change in power in the White House and the next president decides to take this away," Matuz said.

Rep. Ben Quayle has 30 co-sponsors for his Prohibiting Backdoor Amnesty Act. He said the nation needs to secure the border first.

"The ICE folks are really upset about this and then we don't even really know where the funding's going to come from," he said.

Matuz said that's a cop-out.

"We're here because we want to contribute to America."

AZ poised to greet immigration change Wednesday - CBS 5 - KPHO

"It's very sad to see that Congress and politicians aren't willing to solve this problem," said Dulce Matuz, who came to America with her mother when she was only 15. "We cannot continue punishing children for something they didn't do."

The law doesn't change just because those kids feelings are hurt. Blame thier parents for making bad decisions. It is not our fault that they were brought here, yet we have paid billions of dollars for them to be here. Do we get our tax dollars back? No. Should these kids become legal and jump to the head of the line? No, absolutely not!! We have laws. Deal with it!

These kids want to be catered to like they are somethig special, above the law, above all those coming here through the proper channels. I am so tired of hearing them whine and demand an easy way out.

I'm sick of all the billions of dollars wasted on them through the years while our own citizens struggle to survive. Stop playing the damned sympathy card.