http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/18/new-dhs-rules-cancel-deportations/

Bowing to pressure from immigrant rights activists, the Obama administration said Thursday that it will halt deportation proceedings on a case-by-case basis against illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria, such as attending school, having family in the military or having primary responsible for other family members’ care.

The move marks a major step for President Obama, who for months has said he does not have broad categorical authority to halt deportations and said he must follow the laws as Congress has written them.

But in letters to Congress on Thursday, Homeland Security SecretaryJanet Napolitano said she does have discretion to focus on “priorities” and that her department and the Justice Department will review all ongoing cases to see who meets the new criteria.

“This case-by-case approach will enhance public safety,” she said. “Immigration judges will be able to more swiftly adjudicate high-priority cases, such as those involving convicted felons.”

The move won immediate praise from Hispanic activists and Democrats who had strenuously argued with the administration that it did have authority to take these actions, and said as long as Congress is deadlocked on the issue, it was up to Mr. Obama to act.

“Today’s announcement shows that this president is willing to put muscle behind his words and to use his power to intervene when the lives of good people are being ruined by bad laws,” said Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat, who has taken a leadership role on the issue since the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in 2009.

The new rules apply to those who have been apprehended and are in deportation proceedings, but have not been officially ordered out of the country by a judge.

Ms. Napolitano said a working group will try to come up with “guidance on how to provide for appropriate discretionary consideration” for “compelling cases” in instances where someone already has been ordered deported.

Administration officials made the announcement just before Mr. Obama left for a long vacation out of Washington, and as members of Congressare back in their home districts.

The top House Republican on the Judiciary Committee said the move is part of a White House plan “to grant backdoor amnesty to illegal immigrants.”

“The Obama administration should enforce immigration laws, not look for ways to ignore them,” said Rep. Lamar Smith, Texas Republican. “The Obama administration should not pick and choose which laws to enforce. Administration officials should remember the oath of office they took to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land.”

Immigration legislation has been stalled in Congress for years as the two parties have sparred over what to include.

Republicans generally favor stricter enforcement and a temporary program that would allow workers in the country for some time, but eventually return to their home countries. Democrats want the legislation to include legalization of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the country, and want the future guest-worker program to also include a path to citizenship so those workers can stay permanently.

Since 2007, when the issue stalled in the Senate, more than 1 million illegal immigrants have been deported.

Democrats said those deportations are breaking up families and that it’s an unfair punishment for a broken system.

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So ignoring the harm done by illegal immigration to both Americ AND Mexico, how badly has Obama overstepped his power?

I don't see much harm that illegal immigration has caused, minor at best excluded crimes-which don't constitute a large percentage at all. I commend this.

...."the Obama administration said Thursday that it will halt deportation proceedings on a case-by-case basis against illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria, such as attending school, having family in the military or having primary responsible for other family members’ care."

Sounds like a good idea to me.

There's nothing wrong with keeping the ones who have not caused trouble and are trying to better themselves, or indeed have relations serving our country in the military.

good deal

So nobody cares that 77% of illegal immigrants are on welfare and other forms of entitlements? Nobody cares that the human and drug trade that a porous border allows directly fuels Mexican cartels that murder Mexican citizens with impunity, and that are now spreading to Southwest states? Nobody cares that Illegal immigration has been used as a poverty dump by Mexican politicians to avoid having to enact real change to the Mexican economy? Nobody cares that America, facing an enormous debt, uses its dwindling funds to pay for the welfare of Non- US citizens? Nobody cares that Obama clearly overstepped his boundaries and executive power?

If any of you actually think that this decision helps anyone involved in this (be they American, Mexican or Illegal) you are kidding yourself. Time to start thinking with your brain and not your heart.

How is this a good thing? People are putting so called "rights" above common sense.

Get rid of entitlements completely and legalize drugs. The former would simultaneously save the economy (by cutting spending on a scale unheard of) and shut down half of the argument against illegal immigration effectively forcing all who come to this country (illegal or not) to be productive members of society or seek private charity in the case of genuine need. The latter would defang drug cartels by cutting off their income. Legalization would also have the added bonus of reducing the prison population of the U.S. which is staggering.

While we are at it though we should drastically reduce the size of the military, legalize prostitution, and do other things that make perfect sense but will never happen ... at least not in our lifetime.

Also, I wouldn't expect your 77% welfare figure to pull much weight since I doubt that those who support the current form of illegal immigration with entitlements and drug crimes to care at all about welfare figures. More likely, they would find this encouraging ... more cradle to grave government dependents which means, with full amnesty, more voters for them.

foolishness

people who talk about humanity and how they help the nation don't know how this affects the culture of the nation and where it will lead them

yup

most believe in what the mainstream says,they think if a leader says an idea is good,it is good.

mindless fucks