Idaho Statesman Logo

Deportation policy change offers relief for undocumented students | Idaho Statesman

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Boise
    • West Ada
    • Canyon County
    • Crime
    • State News
    • Nation/World News
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Idahoans in the Military
    • Weather
    • Traffic
    • Helping Works
    • In the Classroom
    • Our Community
    • Sports
    • Boise State Football
    • Boise State Basketball
    • Idaho Vandals
    • High Schools
    • Bronco Beat
    • Chadd Cripe
    • Varsity Extra Blog
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • MLB
    • Golf
    • Idaho Politics
    • Elections
    • Government and Business
    • Capitol & State
    • Letters from the West
    • National Politics
    • Business
    • Business Insider
    • Business Columns & Blogs
    • Personal Finance
    • Legal Notices
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Bill Manny
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Guest Opinion
    • Submit a Letter or Opinion
    • Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Arts and Culture
    • Festivals
    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Music
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Puzzles
    • Words & Deeds
    • ArtsBeat
    • Outdoors
    • Playing Outdoors Blog
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Hiking and Trails
    • Hunting
    • Winter Recreation
    • Living
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Treasure
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Best of Treasure Valley
    • Heart of the Treasure Valley
    • Margaret Lauterbach
    • Tim Woodward
    • Carolyn Hax
  • Obituaries

  • Contests
  • Advertise
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

News

Deportation policy change offers relief for undocumented students

Stephen Magagnini - The Sacramento Bee

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 22, 2011 04:47 AM

For years, Roberto Guzman was afraid to drive to class at Sacramento City College for fear he would be pulled over and deported to Mexico.

Now Guzman — whose parents brought him to California from Zacatecas state when he was 2 — is among thousands of undocumented immigrants breathing easier.

The Obama administration announced last week that it would deport only those "who pose a threat to public safety and national security."

That means Guzman, 19, and millions of other undocumented immigrants in the United States will no longer be targeted for deportation. About 300,000 undocumented immigrants facing possible deportation will be reconsidered on a case-by-case basis.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

How long this review will take – and who exactly will be allowed to stay – is unknown. Those subject to "prosecutorial discretion" – meaning they are no longer a law enforcement priority – include a significant number of the nation's 12 million undocumented immigrants, including: Veterans and those serving in the military; minors and the elderly; pregnant or nursing women; victims of domestic violence, trafficking or other serious crimes; those suffering from serious mental or physical disabilities and illnesses; and those in the United States since childhood.

"I was really ecstatic," said Guzman, who leads Sac City's Dream Team Club – about 20 undocumented students fighting for legalization. "A lot of people I know didn't like driving because they put themselves at risk of being caught. Now I can drive freely to the store and relieve some of this fear."

Those seeking to crack down on illegal immigration say President Barack Obama's decision will allow a wide range of people to remain in this country illegally. They accuse Obama of running "an imperial presidency" by trumping laws passed by Congress that make it illegal to be here without papers.

"Basically anybody who has not committed a violent crime is now safe from removal," said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has 250,000 members nationwide.

Mehlman conceded that students such as Guzman "are in a difficult situation," but added, "It was their parents that put them in that situation by deciding to break the law."

By not subjecting these students to deportation unless they've committed a serious crime, he said, "the signal is to bring your kids to the U.S., get them through a few years of school, and they're going to get green cards."

To read the complete article, visit www.sacbee.com.

Related stories from Idaho Statesman

news

Obama administration amends deportation policy

August 19, 2011 05:26 AM

news

Undocumented immigrants may face ID checks on Amtrak, Greyhound

August 15, 2011 04:58 AM

news

Farmers fear Congress might crack down on illegal labor

July 30, 2011 10:01 PM

news

Undocumented immigrants leaving California for Mexico's improving economy

July 28, 2011 04:48 AM

  Comments  

Videos

Tim Eyman under investigation in theft of chair from Lacey Office Depot

Washington music teacher sings ‘Snow Day’ after classes are called off -- again

View More Video

Trending Stories

Vote now for the Treasure Valley athletes of the week (Feb. 11-16)

February 18, 2019 02:31 PM

Man identified who police say broke into home, brandished handgun, fled into Kuna desert

February 17, 2019 07:05 PM

5A SIC all-conference girls basketball team: Where did your favorite player land?

February 18, 2019 11:55 AM

4A SIC all-conference girls basketball team revealed. See who made the cut.

February 18, 2019 12:15 PM

Idaho could pay $110 million more to educate K-12 students next year. Here’s a breakdown

February 18, 2019 12:23 PM

Read Next

Knight Foundation makes $300 million investment to strengthen local news, accountability

National

Knight Foundation makes $300 million investment to strengthen local news, accountability

By Carli Teproff and Jane Wooldridge

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 19, 2019 03:00 AM

The Knight Foundation announced it will invest $300 million over the next five years to bolster local and investigative news, defend the First Amendment and educate the public on real news and accurate reporting.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE NEWS

‘It is time to complete that revolution’: Sanders says he’s running for president

Politics & Government

‘It is time to complete that revolution’: Sanders says he’s running for president

February 19, 2019 05:00 AM
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s running for president in 2020

Nation & World

Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s running for president in 2020

February 19, 2019 05:37 AM
Chanel: Iconic couturier Karl Lagerfeld has died

Entertainment

Chanel: Iconic couturier Karl Lagerfeld has died

February 19, 2019 06:47 AM
The Latest: German minister laments death of Lagerfeld

Entertainment

The Latest: German minister laments death of Lagerfeld

February 19, 2019 06:38 AM
Religious orders apologize for sex abuse inaction, cover-ups

Nation & World

Religious orders apologize for sex abuse inaction, cover-ups

February 19, 2019 06:30 AM
The Latest: UK minister: Brexit uncertainty unacceptable

Business

The Latest: UK minister: Brexit uncertainty unacceptable

February 19, 2019 06:30 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Idaho Statesman App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story