Thread: If President Obama uses his executive powers to enact immigration reform, there are s

Amnesty for ALL is what this amounts to.


If President Obama uses his executive powers to enact immigration reform, there are several moves he can make

The President can grant deferred action to the parents of young people here lawfully, allow immediate relative of U.S. citizens to interview here for permanent residence, and grant employment authorization for undocumented immigrants with graduate degrees

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
BY Allan Wernick

Monday, July 7, 2014, 2:00 AM

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President Obama greets audience members after he spoke about immigration reform at Chamizal National Memorial Park in El Paso, Tex.

President Obama says that he will use his executive powers to provide relief for immigrants since Congress won’t. Here are some suggestions for action well within his power as President:


* Grant deferred action (the right to stay and work in the United States) to the parents of young people here lawfully and for individuals with approved immigration petitions.


In 2012 President Obama granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to individuals who had entered the United States before age 16, who had been here five years and were not yet 31 when the he announced the program. Now, he should grant deferred action to DACA-documented youths’ parents, and to the parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Let the kids stay here but deport their parents? That makes no sense.


And why not grant deferred action to individuals with approved immigration petitions? Why not let them start working now, rather than waiting the months or years it will take them to get their green cards. USCIS has already determined that these individuals have relatives or employment that qualifies them for permanent residence.


* Allow immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to interview here for permanent residence.


Regular readers know the difficulties individuals face getting green cards if they entered without inspection. They can’t interview here for residence, the processed called “adjustment of status,” and if they travel abroad to get their visas, it involves problems and risks. For the families of military personnel, USCIS has a policy called “parole in place,” that lets them adjust status despite an unlawful entry. Parole in place should be granted to all spouses, parents and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens.


* Employment authorization for undocumented immigrants with graduate degrees.


Got a masters, Ph.D. or law degree? You should get employment authorization. How is our nation going to compete internationally if we don’t let highly educated individuals work here. At one time, educated foreigners had few options beyond the U. S. and western Europe. Now many countries, including China, India and several in Latin America and Africa, provide career opportunities that once were available only here. Lets get these people working to build America.


* Two years’ practical training, renewable for up to six years, for international students with bachelor’s degrees or higher.


At one time, a college graduate could easily get H-1B temporary professional worker status. That status allows an employer to sponsor a worker with at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree or the equivalent for up to six years, sometimes longer.


With a yearly quota of 85,000, the H-1B program is oversubscribed, forcing many international students to return home. Under current law, college graduates get one year’s practical training employment permission after graduation. A longer period is available to those in the STEM fields, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. If Congress won't expand the H-1B program, Obama should grant employment authorization to international students after college graduation. Let them work for up to six years during which time they can either change to H-1B status, or if qualified, apply for permanent residence.


Allan Wernick is an attorney and director of the City University of New York's Citizenship NOW! project. Email to questions@allanwernick.com. Follow him on Twitter @awernick.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...icle-1.1854654