Today, President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that the Administration will stop deporting DREAM Act-eligible youth. The Administration will also review and grant, on a case-by-case basis, deferred action and work authorization to young people who are not in deportation proceedings and who meet the following criteria:
- Entered the United States before the age of 16 and have not yet turned 30.
- Have continuously lived in the United States for at least five years.
- Are currently in school, have graduated from high school or obtained a GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or U.S. Armed Forces.
- Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, or multiple misdemeanor offenses.
Over 800,000 students will benefit from this decision, which means that over 800,000 dreams have a better chance of being fulfilled. Preserving the ability for students in this country to go to school and on to college without fear of being ripped away from their US homeland is more than a victory for these students. It is a victory for the country, because we will all be enriched by the talents and contributions of these young Americans. Read NEA President Dennis Van Roekel’s letter to President Obama and Secretary Napolitano. |
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