Guidelines for Potential Deferred Deportation Applicants Released

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a set of guidelines for potential deferred deportation applicants to follow when they apply for the program. The guidelines, released this Friday August 3^rd, 2012, will help the young illegal immigrants in the application procedure on August 15^th, 2012, when the program commences.

The announcements provided assurance to the illegal immigrant applicants that whatever information they provide, the department will not use it against them in the future. The guideline released by the DHS and in a telephonic news conference by U.S Citizenship and Immigration Service director Alejandro Maykorkas, provided the applicants with elaborative directions. These included the presence of about four processing centers established to accept the applications, the application fee of $105 per applicant and the further work permit fee of $465.

The guidelines also said that the applicants will not be required to appear personally for in-person interviews. They also said that the $105 application fees could be waived off if the applicants meet certain conditions, which were:

1. If the applicants prove that they are homeless,
2. If the applicants are able to prove that they are unable to pay the sum due to serious disability, or
3. If the applicants prove that they have $25,000 of outstanding medical bills.

The Federation for American Immigration Reforms (FAIR) has consistently criticized the actions of the state. FAIR has called the announcement of guidelines by the DHS “further evidence of the Obama administration’s determination to carry out a massive amnesty for illegal immigrants through illegal and unilateral actions.”

Dan Stein, the president of FAIR, said that the initiative that the government has so confidently taken is in contradiction to the congresses rejection of the DREAM act. Stein said that the current unemployment rate of 8.3 percent in the U.S will increase as more than a million illegal immigrants receive temporary work permits form the DHS, adding to 23 million Americans who are either jobless or under-employed.

“With today’s announcement,” Stein said, “the pretense that the Obama administration is merely exercising discretion is gone. This is legislating, plain and simple, and it is stealing from the American people and Congress the power that is rightfully theirs. What will be carried out in just twelve days is nothing short of a radical and unilateral rewrite of U.S. immigration laws by the Executive Branch.”

Stein also said that President Obama abandoned his oath of office when he announced his executive order. He said that the president is mocking the constitution of the country by trying to take the laws of the state in to his own hands. He urged the congress to step up and take control of the situation by intervening and by challenging the lawless actions of the State administration.

Lamar Smith, chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and also an opponent of Obama’s program, said that the guidelines are another move by the State authorities to undermine the country’s law.

“Today’s guidance undermines the rule of law,” Lamar said, “and gives lawbreakers an unfair advantage over legal immigrants. When will this president’s assault on the rule of law and the American people end?”

The whole country is waiting to see the Obama administrations executive order unfold on 15^th day of this month. The affects of the order are already being felt in some state, where illegal immigrants are publicly declaring their statuses and challenging laws like the Arizona state’s immigration law.

Tags: Deferred Deportation Program, Illegal immigrants, Immigration, United States, US Citizenship and Immigration Service, US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration