Dems cheer Obama’s more lenient rules on illegal immigrants

By MIke Lillis - 08/18/11 05:30 PM ET

Democrats in both chambers are cheering Thursday after the Obama administration unveiled more lenient rules surrounding the deportation of illegal immigrants.

The changes — announced by the Department of Homeland Security — will allow many illegal immigrants to remain in the country and apply for work permits.

Under the new rules, DHS officials will perform a case-by-case reviews of those in line for deportation, weeding out violent criminals and other high priority cases while closing the books on those considered no threat.


The changes could be particularly beneficial to people who would be eligible for the DREAM Act, an immigration proposal pushed by Democrats that has yet to pass Congress.

The DREAM Act would offer a pathway to permanent residency — and eventually citizenship — for certain illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. The bill passed the House in December, but was killed by a GOP filibuster in the Senate.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) praised the DHS announcement, saying Obama "made the right decision in changing the way they handle deportations of DREAM Act students."

“These students are the future doctors, lawyers, teachers and, maybe, Senators, who will make America stronger," Durbin said in a statement.

To be eligible for the DREAM Act, a person would need to have been in the country for at least five years; earned a high school diploma, or its equivalent; and entered an institution of higher education or the military.

Supporters say the DREAM Act would empower motivated young people to contribute to the betterment of the entire country. Opponents argue the bill lends amnesty to people who broke the law the moment they crossed the border.

The DHS policy changes are sure to draw heavy fire from Republicans who will likely view them as a unilateral move by the administration to ignore Congress's wishes.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the change “will help prioritize our limited enforcement resources to focus on serious felons, gang members and individuals who are a national security threat rather than college students and veterans who have risked their lives for our country.â€