Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process for Young People Who Are Low Enforcement Priorities #immigration dhs.gov/ynews/releases…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 15, 2012
To many, the Obama administration’s order to give undocumented immigrants work permits if they meet certain requirements, is a dream fulfilled, even if it falls short of DREAM Act legislation, which failed in Congress.
Jose Antonio Vargas, the undocumented immigrant journalist who was featured on TIME Magazine’s latest cover, was overjoyed with the news.
This won’t apply to me–I’m past the age limit of 30 and under. I’m 31. But this is HUGE HUGE HUGE. #sohappy #WeAreAmericans @Time
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) June 15, 2012
The response was furious, as both sides of the aisle took to Twitter with their immediate reaction to the news. “Applaud @whitehouse for suspending deportation of #DREAMers,” New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez tweeted. “Will forever change the lives of these young people who call this country home.”
“Mr. President, I don’t think this is a wise way to fix a broken immigration system,” wrote Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham. “This decision avoids dealing with Congress and the American people instead of fixing a broken immigration system once and for all.”
Talk quickly pivoted to the political ramifications of the executive order with the 2012 presidential election looming large. Puerto Rican lawyer Samuel Rosado, who opposes Obama, remarked on the timing of the announcement.
It was impossible to avoid dueling sentiments – many were joyous about the decision, while others said it was election-year pandering. Lalo Alcaraz, an NBC Latino contributor and satirist, supported the move while 2008 McCain National Hispanic co-chair Ana Navarro was skeptical.
Politics or not, this is the right thing to do, Obama is doing it, and DREAMERs MADE IT HAPPEN
— Lalo Alcaraz (@laloalcaraz) June 15, 2012
But for many the importance centered on the DREAMers, students who were brought to the United States as children and will now be able to receive work permits and avoid deportation.
Thank you for all those that stood by me and did not define me by my lack of status. Together we will move forward. #Dreamers
— Marisol Valero (@marisol_valero) June 15, 2012
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