Policy of deporting widows of citizens halted

The Department of Homeland and Security announced on Tuesday that the policy of deporting widows and widowers of citizens of the United States has been temporarily suspended.

The Department of Homeland and Security announced on Tuesday that the policy of deporting widows and widowers of citizens of the United States has been temporarily suspended.

Though there were only a few hundred people who faced the threat of being deported as per the policy, critics termed it as one of the most unacceptable aftereffects of the immigration crackdown by President George W. Bush.

As per the current federal law, there are some immigrants who face the risk of being deported because of their legal status not being clear as a result of death of their American spouses. Immigrants who suffer due to this rule are those who are married for less than two years or whose spouse died prior to the completion of their green-card process.

Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security Secretary, said that for the last two years, her agency has stopped any sort of action against such widows and widowers. She said that the thing about a smart immigration policy is that strong enforcement policies is balanced with common-sense, practical and acceptable solutions to issues which are complicated.

The statement of Department of Homeland Security stated that favorable consideration would be given to requests for reinstatement of cases that were earlier not acceptable under the law.

Dan Austin, immigration attorney and Bender’s Immigration Bulletin editor, said that the change is a good sign which hedge the bet of Obama that advancement of comprehensive immigration reform would help make new ways.