Napa Valley Register-Napans react to immigration policy move
By: Isabelle Dills
Young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children will be safe from deportation and eligible for work permits, according to a new policy announced by the Obama administration.
The policy applies to immigrants between the ages of 16 and 30 who were brought to the country through no choice of their own, have no criminal record and are either in school or have a high school diploma. Veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. military also qualify.
Under the new policy, eligible immigrants may be granted a two-year “deferred action,” which prevents deportation and can be renewed. Those who are issued deferrals may also apply for work permits.
Napa resident Laura Lopez said she plans to apply for deferred action. Lopez's parents brought her to the United States from Mexico a few months before she turned 2 years old.
Lopez attended Pueblo Vista Elementary, Redwood Middle School and Vintage High School in Napa. In 2009, she graduated from UC Santa Cruz with honors and a bachelor's in Latin American/Latino studies.
Because of her immigration status, Lopez â€" now 24 â€" said she is unable to find work in her area of interest. Her goal is to find employment with an agency that offers legal services. Since she was 15, Lopez said she has been working in restaurants as a hostess or waitress.
Lopez, who also is a member of the Napa Valley Dream Act Coalition, said she did not expect the Obama administration to enact such a policy change â€" especially before the election.
“It's a happy surprise,” she said.
The Napa Valley Dream Act Coalition works to promote higher education for undocumented students. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California Dream Act into law, allowing immigrant college students who already qualify for in-state tuition rates to apply for fee waivers at community colleges as well as for Cal Grants at the state's public colleges and universities. The state bill does not create a pathway to citizenship. The federal Dream Act, which did create a pathway, failed in Congress in 2010.
Napa resident Marissa Castaneda, who also is a Dream Act Coalition member, described Friday's announcement as “wonderful news.”
“It was the first thing I woke up to this morning,” Castaneda said, adding that her friends on Facebook are all posting “thank you's” to Obama.
Castaneda, 20, said the new policy is a “small step” in the larger immigration issue.
“Like Obama said, this is the right thing to do,” Castaneda added.
The Obama administration bypassed Congress by issuing the new policy as an executive order.
Kevin Hangman, chairman of Napa County's Republican Central Committee, said Obama was overstepping his authority.
“Whether you agree or disagree with the existing law, we can all agree that President Obama's usurpation of Congress' authority is wrong and ultimately will not resolve the issue,” Hangman wrote in an email.
He said Friday's announcement was motivated by the November election.
“His obvious pandering for special interest votes in the upcoming election is an embarrassment to the office and an insult to the country,” Hangman wrote.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a statement Friday.
“Our nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner,” Napolitano said. “But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language. Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here.”
The new policy will help the Department of Homeland Security to better focus on illegal immigrants who pose a public safety risk, including those convicted of crimes and repeat immigration law offenders, according to the release.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, issued his statement of support for the new policy on Friday.
“The people we're talking about are young, productive, law-abiding individuals. They go to school with our kids, work in our communities, and some even serve in our military,” Thompson said.
“They are our friends and neighbors. They want to go to college and contribute to our country, and today's decision will give them the opportunity to do so.”