Obama Administration announces halt for some deportation cases

August 19, 2011

The Obama Administration announced a new immigration reform policy, Friday August 19, 2011, that will temporarily halt the deportation of illegal immigrants classified as "low-priority" cases. As it stands, there are approximately 300,000 deportation cases pending with the Federal Immigration Courts.

Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, said:

"The President has said on numerous occasions that it makes no sense to expend our enforcement resources on low-priority cases."

Many have hoped that the Obama Administration would gain enough support for more sweeping and substantial legislation that would provide for amnesty or some path to permanent residence for those who have entered illegally, overstayed their status, or are otherwise ineligible or inadmissible. The Dream Act has failed to gain sufficient support in Congress. Other legislative efforts have also failed.

Backed by the Department of Homeland Security, the immigration reform policy will suspend deportation proceedings on "young undocumented immigrants who pose no threat to public safety or national security." Although the undetermined stay will not give illegal immigrants a "path to permanent residency", it may allow some immigrants to apply for a work permit that would not otherwise be eligible to apply.

The team of immigration attorneys at the Mevorah Law Offices, with offices in Joliet, Lombard, Bloomingdale, and Chicago, have helped individuals and families with Removal/Deportation, Naturalization/Citizenship, Employment-Based Visas, Family-Based Visas, and Temporary Visas, among other immigration cases. Let our more than 32 years of practice work for you.

Contact the Mevorah Law Offices to meet with one of our immigration attorneys that are dedicated to helping immigrants. Let us help you through this difficult and stressful process. Whether you are applying for status, are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or are fighting deportation or removal - we stand ready to help.

More on this from ABC News...