Barack Obama
Barack Obama served as president of the United States of America from January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2017. When taken as a whole, President Barack Obama's immigration policies amounted to a moderate approach, with specific initiatives drawing harsh criticism from both sides of the immigration debate in the United States. He had to strike a balance between welcoming new immigrants and providing meaningful change for the country's 12 million illegal residents, while also enforcing existing laws and keeping the country's borders secure.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
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On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet certain criteria may apply for deferred action for two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work permits. Deferred action is the use of prosecutorial discretion to postpone removal proceedings against a person for a set period of time. Deferred action does not grant legal status.
In 2012, Obama issued an executive order establishing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, which allows undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children to apply for renewable two-year periods of deferred action from deportation, allowing them to stay in the country and work. While DACA addresses some of the same socioeconomic issues as the DREAM Act, it does not provide a path to citizenship for those who qualify. |
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents
Delayed Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), a Department of Homeland Security immigration relief program established in 2014, authorized deferred action for millions of parents whose children were U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, which Obama announced in 2014, is a parallel program (DAPA). DAPA, like DACA, would have granted people in the country illegally renewable deferred action status and work permits – in this case, parents of children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. A 2015 injunction preventing DAPA's implementation was the result of numerous lawsuits filed by state governments. In 2017, the Trump administration announced its intention to repeal DAPA.
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, which Obama announced in 2014, is a parallel program (DAPA). DAPA, like DACA, would have granted people in the country illegally renewable deferred action status and work permits – in this case, parents of children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. A 2015 injunction preventing DAPA's implementation was the result of numerous lawsuits filed by state governments. In 2017, the Trump administration announced its intention to repeal DAPA.
International Entrepreneur Rule
Obama's administration proposed the International Entrepreneur Rule in 2016 to assist foreign-born entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses in the United States. The rule established "startup visas" to encourage foreign entrepreneurs to establish businesses in the United States.
behind the curtains
The Obama administration did not shy away from controversy. This administration was responsible for what critics deemed as disastrous immigration policies.
Firstly, the Obama administration began detaining undocumented mothers and children who had crossed the border illegally in hope that this method would deter future illegal immigration. Unfortunately, the Obama administration was not prepared to handle the detainees because of the inadequate, limited resources available. |
The Secure Communities Program was a policy introduced by President George W. Bush during his last year as president. The Secure Communities Program purpose was to apprehend and remove “criminal aliens” inside the U.S by using biometric information sharing. The Obama administration strengthened the program, expanding it to 3,181 jurisdictions in all 50 states (Perez, Claudio J). During the Obama era, more than 88,000 families lost a loved one to deportation through the Secure Communities Program (Kohli et al.). Because of intensive controversy, Jen Johnson, once the Secretary of Homeland Security, discontinued the program because of the rebelling state governments that were opposing this program.
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The effects of Secure Communities Program can be seen in Moreno V. Napolitano. Jose Jimenez Moreno, a U.S citizen was arrested on March 21,2011. When in he was arrested, DHS issued an immigration detainer.
An immigration detainer orders local police to detain individuals even after local authorities have lost the right to apprehend the arrested individual, until DHS officers arrive to deport the individual arrested.
Moreno claimed this violated his 4th, 5th and 10th amendment by failing to demonstrate probable cause before issuing a detainer, individuals cannot challenge the extended stay with local authorities, there is no warning if an individual has been issued a detainer and because it forces local and state government to implement federal immigration law.
To obtain more information about this case click on the following link immigrantjustice.org/court_cases/jimenez-moreno-et-al-v-napolitano-et-al-ice-detainer-class-action.
Moreno was one of the few who fought against this program and it is unfortunate to not know how many individuals had a similar scenario to that of Moreno who did get deported.
An immigration detainer orders local police to detain individuals even after local authorities have lost the right to apprehend the arrested individual, until DHS officers arrive to deport the individual arrested.
Moreno claimed this violated his 4th, 5th and 10th amendment by failing to demonstrate probable cause before issuing a detainer, individuals cannot challenge the extended stay with local authorities, there is no warning if an individual has been issued a detainer and because it forces local and state government to implement federal immigration law.
To obtain more information about this case click on the following link immigrantjustice.org/court_cases/jimenez-moreno-et-al-v-napolitano-et-al-ice-detainer-class-action.
Moreno was one of the few who fought against this program and it is unfortunate to not know how many individuals had a similar scenario to that of Moreno who did get deported.
More of the effects the Secure Communities Program had on immigrants
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