US changes rules on deporting immigrants

United States, 19th August: At last, the US administration is beginning to introduce serious reforms to the US immigration rules regarding deportation of undocumented immigrants from the US.

And this is something to cheer about for a large number of immigrants living in the US with undocumented immigration status.

Leniency towards undocumented immigrant students, military veterans--The US government says it is going to review deportation files of as many as 300,000 undocumented immigrants living in the US currently.

It has asserted its stand to stop deportations of students and other undocumented immigrants, especially those who are not considered as any potential threat to the safety of the nation.

Giving details about the new rules for undocumented immigrants living in the US, Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary, stated in a letter addressed to the Congress members that the new case-by-case approach is going to increase public safety.

It will also authorize immigration judges in the US to adjudicate high-priority cases at the outset. Such undocumented immigrants usually had moved to the US as small kids along with their undocumented immigrant parents. The US administration says that it will rather shift its focus on deporting only criminals since they are a big threat for US security.

Move welcomed by immigration advocate groups and immigrants--Although the move does not alleviate the possibility for immigration reform by Congress, but still, this is, undoubtedly, a big relief for various immigrant communities living in the US who, along with several immigrant advocates, have welcomed the decision of the US administration.

For quite some time now, undocumented immigrants and immigrant advocates have been urging the US administration to show some leniency towards them by introducing relative US immigration reforms.

Meanwhile, the US immigration officials have maintained that the deportation cases will only be set aside, and not dismissed, with the likelihood of getting reopened anytime by immigration agents.

Undocumented immigrants to get ability to apply for US work permits--The government also clarified that it will allow undocumented immigrants considered to be a low priority an opportunity to get work in the US by enabling them to stay and make applications for US work permits.

According to director of Immigration Policy Center, Mary Giovagnoli, the recent step by US administration is certainly good but there is still room for comprehensive US immigration reform.