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The Washington Times
June 15, 2012
The Obama administration said Friday it will stop deporting most illegal immigrant students and young adults in a campaign-year move that escalates the immigration debate to the fore.
For years the administration had said it didn't have the authority to make such a move, saying it couldn't decide to stop deporting wide categories of people on its own without approval from Congress.
But on Friday President Obama says administration now interprets the law to give it the discretion.
"Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people," Mr. Obama said in an appearance in the White House Rose Garden. "Over the next few months, eligible individuals who do not present a risk to national security or public safety will be able to request temporary relief from deportation proceedings and apply for work authorization."
Mr. Obama said the action was meant to be a temporary fix for our "broken immigration system" and urged Congress to pass a more permanent solution such as the DREAM Act.
"This is not amnesty," Mr. Obama said. "This is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It's not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely, while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people. It is the right thing to do."
Mr. Obama angrily shot down a reporter for the conservative Daily Caller who interrupted his remarks with the question, "Why do you favor foreigners over American workers?"
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