Voices supports new protection for undocumented youth

The Obama administration will stop the deportation of many young undocumented immigrants, the White House announced today. Child advocates have fought for years against the deportation of promising students who have kept clean records and were brought into the United States when they were very young. Today we’re delighted that many of these students who most embody the idea of the American Dream will get to stay here and pursue it.

Over the past few years, Congress has attempted to address the problem of these kinds of deportations. The DREAM Act, which Voices supported, would have accomplished much of what Obama announced today: “Over the next few months, eligible individuals who do not present a risk to national security or public safety will be able to request temporary relief from deportation proceedings and apply for work authorization,” President Obama announced.

No version of the DREAM Act has passed Congress, and the policy announced today is not law. Obama presented it as a stopgap measure to improve America’s immigration policies until Congress can pass a more permanent legislative fix. We’ll continue to fight for a law like the DREAM Act, too, but for now are glad to see that fewer families will be disrupted and more hard-working students will be allowed to contribute to our country’s success.