US President Barack Obama's plan to shield up to 4.7 million undocumented immigrants from deportation may be immensely significant, but only a comprehensive legislation from the Congress with a larger goal could do justice to immigrant expectations.
Part I: Being undocumented in the United States
Now read Part II of a four-part special series on the life struggle of Indian immigrants in the United States, by Arthur J Pais and Ritu Jha.
United States President Barack Obama in November announced a series of steps that could make life easier and more secure for nearly half of the 11 million undocumented people in the United States.
He said he would defer deportation proceedings for three years for undocumented immigrants whose children are US citizens or legal residents.
Administration officials estimate that 4.1 million people will be eligible to stay in this country under that program, the San Francisco Chronicle noted.
In the televised speech, President Obama said, ‘I will make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed.’
Referring to a White House briefing, The Washington Post said Obama would direct the Department of Homeland Security to help students in STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- by proposing, to ‘expand and extend’ the Optional Training programme that allows foreign-born STEM students and recent graduates to remain in the United States for up to 29 months.
After Obama’s announcement, a much-questioned measure -- that allowed local police to detain undocumented suspects until they can be deported -- will also be defunct.
“We get robbed and beaten up all the time,” said an Indian owner of a small convenience shop in Jersey City. “We are afraid to complain to the police because many of us have no papers.”
Among those eligible for deportation deferrals, for example, are people ‘who arrived in the US before turning 16 years old and before January 1, 2010, regardless of how old they are today.’
Two years ago, Obama’s executive order deferred deportations for such undocumented immigrants as Pratishtha Khanna, her brother Waris Shah Khanna, Yves Gomes, and Rishi Singh -- who came to America as children, joining their undocumented l parents; the so-called DREAMers (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors).
The original order was limited to those who arrived here before June 2007, and eligibility was capped at age 31. It did not stop potential deportation of their parents.
In November, the President said, ‘We’re going to offer the following deal: If you have been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes -- you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily, without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.’
None of the changes Obama announced is going to happen in a hurry, some commentators added.
‘Applications for the deferrals won’t be accepted until the middle of next year, and other programs that require new rules, such as changes to the H-1b visa programme, could take 18 months,’ administration officials were quoted as saying in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Immigrant advocates welcomed the announcement, but said only a comprehensive legislation from the Congress with a larger goal could do justice to immigrant expectations.
“This action,” said Ami Gandhi, executive director, South Asian American Policy & Research Institute, “will provide relief for many South Asian individuals, including undocumented parents of citizens or legal permanent residents; childhood arrivals; victims of crimes and trafficking; high-skilled workers
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