President Obama's Immigration Reform - The Right Thing To Do

Sergio Baron, 17 of Elizabeth, NJ
and his siblings, beneficiaries of
the new immigration policy.
Photo: Tim Farrell / Star Ledger

Last Friday President Obama announced an executive order that will, at least temporarily, significantly shift American immigration policy and make daily living much less stressful for nearly one million young illegal immigrants living in the U.S.

According to the President's order, his administration will cease deporting and begin granting work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, and who have since followed our nation's laws.

The new rules, which impact approximately 800,000 "foreign nationals" living in America, apply specifically to undocumented immigrants who are under 30 years of age, and who were brought to the U.S. prior to their 16th birthday. Immigrants must also be either currently enrolled in school, high school graduates, or members of the armed services, in order to be exempt from deportation.

In his explanation for the policy change, President Obama put a human face on the immigration issue, noting that the children of illegal immigrants "study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods, befriend our kids, pledge allegiance to our flag. It makes no sense to expel talented young people who are, for all intents and purposes, Americans."

The poignant short video below, Illegal by John X. Carey, illustrates the need for immigration reform, particularly as it relates to children, by showing the real life challenges a group of talented young immigrants face in the U.S., even though they don't remember life before America. Do yourself a favor, and watch.

Illegal from John X. Carey on Vimeo.