New Immigration Policy Put in Place: If You Came or Were Brought to the United States When You Were Under 16 and Have Not Gotten in Trouble, Your Case Will Not Be Pursued

Using the Justice System to Promote, Of All Things, Justice

Earlier the Obama Administration announced that it would review on a case by case basis the situation of any individual who came illegally to the U. S. before they were 16.  If the individual is found to have been a model resident of this country, their immigration case will have very low priority.

In addition to be a decent and humane action, there is a practical matter for doing this.



Jason Henry for The New York Times

In Florida, Manuel Guerra, center, has been fighting

 deportation for five years. His case was among the first suspended.



Homeland Security officials said Monday that their goal is to quickly identify noncriminals on swollen immigration court dockets and close those cases, clearing the way for speedier removals of gang members, drug traffickers or foreigners who repeatedly return after being deported. Wait times for a hearing in immigration courts can now be as long as 18 months.

Republicans as expected are outraged.

           



Republican leaders reacted to Mr. Obama’s new policy by stepping up their rejection of his approach. Representative Peter T. King of New York, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the House, said the president was making “a blatant attempt to grant amnesty to potentially millions of illegal aliens in this country,” which he called “totally unacceptable.”



Typical Republican "outraged" at learning that
the Obama Administration Will Move Deporting
Criminals Ahead of Deporting Children



but readers will notice that nowhere in Mr. King’s statement does he say why he would object to Homeland Security giving a priority to ejecting illegal immigrants who are gang members, drug dealers or repeat offenders.  Maybe given some time he can come up with a reason why those types should not be moved to the head of the deportation line.

Finally one more bit of good news in this story.

the announcement appeared to signal an end to efforts by the White House to court some of its Republican opponents, with administration officials acknowledging those efforts have failed and there is little chance for broad immigration legislation to pass before elections next year.

Great, maybe reality with respect to the Republican opposition is finally gaining a seat at the table at the White House strategy sessions.