3,400 young SC immigrants given temporary status

3,400 young SC immigrants given temporary status

Posted: Jul 16, 2013 8:55 AM PDT <em class="wnDate">Tuesday, July 16, 2013 11:55 AM EST</em>Updated: Jul 16, 2013 8:55 AM PDT <em class="wnDate">Tuesday, July 16, 2013 11:55 AM EST</em>

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Federal records show that thousands of young adults in South Carolina have been granted temporary resident status under President Barack Obama's program that postpones deportation proceedings.

The Greenville News reports (http://grnol.co/10Ydhuq ) that 3,438 applicants from South Carolina have been approved for the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services records, they represent less than 1% of nearly 540,000 people granted temporary status nationwide.

The program created through executive order a year ago awards federal work permits and protects them from deportation proceedings for up to four years.
Applicants must have arrived in the country before age 16 and be younger than 30. Those approved can attend public colleges and get a job.

Obama created the program after the proposed Dream Act failed in 2010.

Information from: The Greenville News, http://www.greenvillenews.com

http://www.wsav.com/story/22853858/3400-young-sc-immigrants-given-temporary-status