Young undocumented students will soon be able to get temporary protection from deportation and be authorized to work, the Obama administration announced today.
The new immigration policy, which will grant deportation waivers and work permits, applies to as many as 800,000 undocumented immigrants in the country, according to the Associated Press.
The policy is not meant to provide a pathway to citizenship, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said in a memorandum.
But eligible individuals will not be deported and can secure two-year work permits with unlimited renewals with the new policy, she added.
To qualify, individuals must meet the following requirements:
- under 30 years old
- came to the United States before they turned 16
- been in the country for five continuous years
- no criminal record
- graduated from high school, earned a GED, or served in the military
Because the policy is an executive order from the president, it will bypass Congress without requiring a vote and will go in effect within 60 days, officials said.
Compiled by Naheed Rajwani and Emily Suh, Bruin senior staff