President Obama’s new immigration policy promises to “lift the shadow of deportation” from students that “are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one — on paper.”
As Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said, the policy sets “good, strong, sensible priorities … These young people really are not the individuals that the immigration removal process was designed to focus upon.”
The policy reprioritizes deporting criminals while granting two-year waivers and eligibility for work permits to young people with a clean record who have demonstrated a commitment to the United States through their studies or military service.
You know these students — bright, determined, hard-working students constantly giving of themselves to a country that presents them with obstacles.
Emilio Vicente, a sophomore public policy and political science major from Guatemala, was brought to the United States when he was 6 years old. While his impressive resume granted him out-of-state admittance to UNC and qualified him for several merit-based scholarships, he was unable to accept most of them, due to his immigration status.
Since coming to the United States, Vicente has immersed himself in social justice initiatives, establishing a tutoring program at his local elementary school. He’s worked toward comprehensive health education policies for youth and is particularly passionate about granting rights to people that don’t, but should have them.
Vicente says the policy provides the ability and incentive for students like himself to pursue higher education. Since students are able to access jobs that match their qualifications, they will be better able to afford the hefty student fees that accompany their immigration status.
As Vicente said, it also means he can pay even more taxes.
The policy is by no means perfect. As a temporary stop-gap measure, it could disappear if the administration changes. It also falls short of the provisions in the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors — or DREAM — Act that provide exceptional young people with a pathway to citizenship. As the president said, “These kids deserve to plan their lives in more than two year increments.” Congress must work diligently to pass the DREAM Act quickly.
