Republicans, Democrats spar on allowing illegal immigrants with criminal pasts to avoid deportation
Published June 16, 2012
Democrats and Republicans sparred Saturday over the part of President Obama's executive order on illegal immigration that allows some applicants to avoid deportation despite having committed crimes.
The section at issue states in part that young illegal immigrants eligible for the program must have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
The language leaves open the door for some illegal immigrants with misdemeanor records to stay.
The first news reports on the change stated those eligible could have no criminal history, but documents released later in the day showed that to be incorrect.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the first administration official to announce the plan, said Friday morning the policy change was an attempt to keep the agencys enforcement resources focused on removing the most potentially dangerous illegal immigrants, including felons and repeat offenders.
She also attempted to assure Americans by saying those eligible under the program must apply for a two-year suspension of deportation and a work visa, after which they can reapply for renewal. She also said each applicant would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here, she said.
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Schweikert called the order backdoor amnesty full of unintended consequences that puts hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants ahead of millions of unemployed Americans in the workforce.
He also said called applicants being eligible despite having a criminal record the latest facet of the plan, that we are just discovering
seriously dangerous and inexcusable.
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Republicans, Democrats spar on allowing illegal immigrants with criminal pasts to avoid deportation | Fox News