US eases immigration rules for eligible Dream immigrants

United States, 28th June: Here comes good news for immigrants in the US as Obama administration has relaxed immigration rules for undocumented immigrants eligible under the Dream Act.

In accordance with the directives of Obama administration, the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the chief advisor to the Obama administration, released a latest memo regarding new policy for deportation of immigrants eligible under the Dream Act.

What is Dream Act—Dream Act(Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) was introduced by Congress about two years ago on 26th March, 2009. Its sole aim is to provide an opportunity to undocumented immigrants gain US permanent residency.

The Dream Act enables students a route to US citizenship irrespective of their US immigration status through their undocumented immigrant parents.

Another aim of this act is to help individuals meeting certain conditions to join a college or military services in the US and make contributions to this country.

What are the changes announced by the ICE—As per John Morton, chieftain of ICE, the memorandum dated 17th June gives authority to all Special Agents in Charge, all Field Office Directors of ICE and Chief Counsel to decline removal of undocumented immigrants meeting the specified requirements for amnesty under this act. It gives detailed factors to be considered by ICE officials, attorneys and agents for knowing whether to remove any undocumented immigrant from the US or not.

Factors under Dream Act preview are ---

• The duration of stay of the person in the US with special emphasis on his lawful US status;

• The conditions of the concerned individual’s arrival in the US and the way of his entry, especially if he arrived in the US as a young child;

• His education pursuit in the US, with special focus to those having graduated from any US school or are still in the process of pursuing college education from any valid US institute;

• The criminal history, any convictions in the past or any due arrest warrants;

• Whether the individual or his immediate relative has been in the US military services;

• Whether the individual is a threat to US security;

• Whether he is a US permanent resident or US citizen;

• Whether he or his spouse suffers from any severe physical or mental illness;

• Whether he is currently providing cooperation or has cooperated with state, federal or local law officials including the US ICE among others.