LITTLE ROCK — For hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth living in the United States, President Barack Obama’s recent Department of Homeland Security memo halting their deportations has provided a tremendous sense of relief.
More than 1.1 million undocumented immigrants have been deported since the beginning of the Obama administration, including many youth who would have been spared by this new rule.
The crackdown has separated families and pushed millions of workers and students deeper into the shadows. And it has disrupted regional economies as immigrants flee to avoid the cruel and restrictive laws snowballing across several states.
Deportation advocates have contended that this crackdown is making society safer. But a recent Syracuse University study analyzing the trends in immigration enforcement over the years has shown that the majority of those who are deported each year have not committed any crime.
The average undocumented immigrant has lived in the country for 10 years and has established deep roots in the community, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.
But to make a real difference, these youth need something more than a Homeland Security memo; they will need citizenship.
Obama’s order requires the Department of Homeland Security to cease the deportations of up to an estimated 1.4 million young people. To qualify, they must have come to the United States before age 16, have been in the country for at least five years, have no criminal record, and be enrolled in or have completed high school or military service. Those who qualify can apply for two-year renewable work permits.
The policy only defers deportation for the duration of the permit; it does not remove the threat altogether. It also leaves out millions, including the parents and family members of the same youths who have qualified for the reprieve. As the president stated in his announcement speech, “This is not a path to citizenship. It’s not a permanent fix.”
That’s the problem. The limited scope of this change leaves multiple barriers and an uncertain future in place. The new Homeland Security rule is not a law and can be rescinded by any sitting president.
Without a path to citizenship these youth will still be stuck in a second-class status that prevents them from gaining financial support for college, denies them access to good jobs, excludes them from government programs and service, and keeps them in legal limbo.
We need a new approach that keeps families together, offers the full promise of a better life for immigrant youth and their families and strengthens the social and economic well-being of communities across the country.
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Justin Akers Chacon is a professor of U.S. history and Chicano studies in San Diego.
Editorial, Pages 10 on 06/25/2012