| DREAMers Line Up To Apply For Work Permits |
| Aug-15-2012 |
| Keywords: illegal, immigrants, apply, obama, deportation deferral, program, work permit, waiver |
Thousands of young illegal immigrants today lined up at consulates around the country, looking to take advantage of the Obama administration's deferred deportation program.
As many as 1.8 million illegal immigrants could be take advantage of the two-year reprieve from deportation, which kicked off today.
Under the new program, young illegal immigrants under the age of 30 can apply for a two-year work permit. Applicants must fill out a six-page form, pay a $465 fee and submit documents proving their identity in order to qualify.
Those apply for the program are being referred to as DREAMers, because the program closely mimics the original DREAM act that failed to pass through Congress.
The requirements are not quite as stringent as those in the original DREAM Act.
Applicants must be in school, or have a high school diploma or GED -- or be a military veteran. They can't have a felony record, but are still not disqualified if they're committed fewer than three minor misdemeanors.
Immigration officials say the documents will be closely scrutinized, despite the fact that documents will be evaluated without a uniform standard.
Republican lawmakers are accusing the Obama of circumventing Congress with the new program in an effort to boost his political standing and of favoring illegal immigrants over unemployed U.S. citizens.
Among the Republicans protesting the administration's unilateral change to immigration policy, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, says the policy amounts to backdoor amnesty and is susceptible to fraud.
"While potentially millions of illegal immigrants will be permitted to compete with American workers for scarce jobs, there seems to be little if any mechanism in place for vetting fraudulent applications and documentation submitted by illegal immigrants," Smith said on Tuesday.
The program is beginning just as the presidential campaign heats up, and promises to be a tight contest for the White House in which the Hispanic vote may play an important role. |
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Posted by Lou Dobbs Staff at 7:00 PM Email to a friend |
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