Home » Government Articles » Dramatic Shift in Deportation Policy May Benefit Thousands of Immigrants
Dramatic Shift in Deportation Policy May Benefit Thousands of Immigrants
Learn more about a new immigration policy that will potentially allow thousands of undocumented workers to stay in the country.
September 03, 2011 /Government PR News/ -- On August 18, 2011, the Obama administration announced a major alteration of U.S. immigration policy. Under the new guidelines, government officials will focus primarily on deporting only those immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes.
Illegal Immigrants Protected
Amid growing public outrage at the government's failure to act on immigration reform and a ballooning deportation caseload (immigration courts in Phoenix, Arizona, for instance, are backlogged by as much as four years), the White House decided it was time to act. Some 300,000 pending deportation cases will be individually reviewed, and many illegal immigrants are expected to receive at least a temporary reprieve.
The new policy also means that immigration enforcement agents will be instructed not to initiate new deportation proceedings against an immigrant solely for being in the country illegally. In the future, administration officials say that limited deportation resources will be committed to removing serious criminals.
Implementation
Since the new policy went into effect, some immigration attorneys have already received calls from federal prosecutors suggesting they ask that clients' cases be dismissed.
But, local immigration offices are responding differently to the federal directive. Some officials are waiting to receive more guidance from the federal government before committing to major changes. "We are seeing different things in different places," Eleanor Pelta, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told CNN news.
Caution Warranted For Illegal Immigrants
Anyone in the United States illegally should know that the new guidelines do not grant amnesty; for the time being, there are no guarantees, and immigrants who have not committed felonies could still face deportation.
Even so, the policy change marks a significant turning point. Illegal immigrants whose cases are thrown out could potentially stay in the country indefinitely; while their legal status would not be affected, some may now qualify for work permits.
The Future
Advocates on both sides of the immigration debate caution that the Obama administration's new stance on deportations is only a temporary measure that could change with political upheavals. More permanent solutions are not anticipated until 2013 at the earliest, as Congress is not expected to tackle comprehensive immigration reform before next year's election.
In the meantime, if you are facing immigration entanglements, you should contact an experienced immigration attorney to review your options and ensure you receive the fair treatment you deserve.
Article provided by Kanu & Associates, P.C.
Visit us at www.kanulaw.com/
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