Border Action Network (BAN) celebrates the White House's decision to offer immigration relief to undocumented students in the form of deferred action. Hispanic youth in Arizona and young people from many countries throughout the United States will almost certainly benefit greatly from this change in policy. The responses from DREAM Act students all over the country are marked by gratitude, hope, and a sense of disbelief. “It is a dream and at last I woke up from the dream,” Maria, a DREAM Act Student from Tucson, said. When a reporter asked her, “How do you feel about this opportunity?” Maria responded, “My life has barely started.” It is estimated that 800,000 youth will come forward to request deferred action. Adelina, another DREAM Act Student says, “Now I plan to go to college and get a Master’s degree. I don’t just want to take what I was given but give back to the community.”

[ VIDEO ] BAN DREAMers React to Obama's Immigration Policy

 























According to the Department of Homeland Security, undocumented individuals brought to the United States before they turned 16 and are younger than 30, have been in the country for at least 5 continuous years and presently reside here, have no criminal history, have graduated from a U.S. high school, or have served in the U.S. military could receive relief from deportation and be granted permits to work legally in the United States. "President Obama should be congratulated for restoring measures of hope and dignity to a generation of our youth who have been living under clouds of fear and uncertainty," stated BAN Policy Director Mike Wilson. This could radically improve the lives of many immigrant youth. For example, although Ignacio graduated high school in the United States, he works at the Swap Meet in the heat and earns less than minimum wage because he is not able to compete for jobs with documented workers. When asked how he feels about this decision, he said, “I want to be a teacher and work in the community.”

[ RESOURCES ] Helpful Q&A from USCIS

The Department of Homeland Security expects to begin the process for applications within 60 days. BAN will release additional information about the impact of this new policy in the near future and will work with the Department of Homeland Security and the White House to ensure its full and fair implementation. It is important to note that deferred action is a temporary form of relief that does not lead to citizenship. Congress must still take action to craft a permanent solution for relief in order to fix the range of problems plaguing our broken immigration system.

This announcement from the White House marks an important moment in the struggle for immigration reform in our country. BAN Statewide Organizer Julissa Villa states, “This is truly a blessing for parents before Father’s Day. This is a tribute to parents who have sacrificed so much. These parents have walked across the desert, worked 3 jobs, organized within their community, all to make their children’s dreams come true.” We commend the tremendous advocacy efforts of the DREAMers, their parents, and grassroots organizations around the country whose courage paved the way for this policy change.