1922 - Shoot 'em

Somebody shoot the headline writers. Here's a headline from yesterday.

U.S. to Stop Deporting Some Illegal Immigrants

The proper headline?

U.S. to Delay Possible Deportation of Some Illegal Immigrants If Conditions Are Met

The US is going to give some people a chance to meet conditions to stay in the US. What conditions? Here's something from the article...

The policy, effective immediately, will apply to people who are currently no more than 30 years old, who arrived in the country before they turned 16 and have lived in the United States for five years. They must also have no criminal record, and have earned a high school diploma, be in school or have served in the military. .... the ability to apply for a two-year "deferred action" ....

This is a pretty limited scope of action that applies to people that didn't have a choice when they were brought here by their parents. And I think if the military let them enlist and they got an honorable discharge they should automatically become citizens.

I worked with a guy at the phone company that came here from Germany via Canada with his parents when he was five years old. He had never become a citizen but had served in the Army in Vietnam. When the citizenship controversy started gaining momentum years back he decided he better go down and apply. He did and had no problems. But to me this is a perfect example of someone who should have gotten automatic citizenship coming out of the Army.



I think I jumped on this topic too soon. I actually wrote this post Friday afternoon after seeing the Internet article. Little did I know it would make the evening news. And that I would start getting email on the subject.



Mike --

BREAKING NEWS: President Obama just announced a long-overdue policy that gives legal status to young immigrants, including students and members of the military.

As the President put it, "It makes no sense to expel talented young persons who are, for all intents and purposes, Americans."

Republicans in Congress are already mobilizing against the President’s policy -- one has even announced a plan to sue the Obama administration.

We need to get the President’s back on this.

Sign our petition standing with President Obama: Tell Congress to pass the DREAM Act >>

This momentous decision is a critical first step to addressing millions of young immigrants who have grown up in the United States -- but it’s only temporary. The next President could revoke this order on their first day in office.

Republicans in Congress must pass the DREAM Act to allow these students and members of our military a real pathway to citizenship. President Obama made it clear in his statement today:

“I’ve said time and time again to Congress: send me the DREAM Act, put it on my desk, and I’ll pass it right away.”

This is a defining issue for our country: if Mitt Romney and the Republicans refuse to allow immigrants who were brought to America as children to have basic rights, then we need to call them out.

Add your name right now:

http://dccc.org/DREAM-Act

Angela

Angela Guzman DCCC Grassroots Outreach Director



I wonder which dingbat is going to sue Obama?