Immigration Policy Is Path to Amnesty for Those in U.S. Illegally


Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 12:02 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 12:02 a.m.


Being a legal immigrant to this country and a proud, naturalized citizen, I am particularly interested in the immigration issue being a hot topic at the moment. It was not easy to enter the U.S. legally in 1964 and it is much more difficult now.


Without a sponsor or close relative living in the U.S., it is almost impossible to receive a green card and become a citizen. The only way is through the Diversity Immigrant Visa program. Fifty thousand diversity visas become available annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Last December, the Senate blocked the Dream Act bill, which would have created a path to citizenship for certain young illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and completed two years of college or military service. Despite failing to pass the U.S. Congress, the federal Dream Act is now law, effectively.

In June, an Obama administration memo from the Director of Immigration and Customs directed ICE agents to exercise "prosecutorial discretion," giving guidelines for who should not be detained and deported. As a follow-up, U.S. Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano detailed changes on behalf of President Barack Obama.

The department will review about 300,000 deportation cases and focus on removing criminals and security threats. "Noncriminal illegal immigrants will not have a path to legal permanent residency, but they will be allowed to apply for a work permit," where they will now unfairly compete with more than 9 percent of Americans who are looking for jobs.

If people cross our border illegally, aren't they already criminals? If they are illegal, they are illegal criminals and should all be deported, no matter what age.

The White House is overhauling the nation's immigration policy without congressional approval. This is clearly a back-door amnesty policy.

BRIGITTE FELL

Lake Wales

http://www.theledger.com/article/201108 ... 8/sitemaps