Department of Homeland Security will soon administer 'unlawful presence waivers' to illegal immigrants
Agency will grant waivers
The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, has posted an announcement
in the Federal register. The agency says it will begin granting
"unlawful presence waivers" to illegal aliens who can prove they have a
relative currently a U.S. citizen. Some believe this a prime example of
the Obama administration trying to impose "stealth amnesty" to halt the
deportation of certain illegal immigrants.
This program pole axed the legal profession and baffled immigration attorneys who said the government bounced their clients' deportation even when expulsion was virtually guaranteed.
PrintThey must enter the U.S. legally as thousands of foreigners do on a yearly basis. Opponents say this is akin to rewarding bad behavior in a child.
One of the arguments forwarded is that the current system often causes "U.S. citizens to be separated for extended periods from their immediate relatives." The proposed changes, first announced last January, will significantly reduce the length of time U.S. citizens are separated from their loved ones while they remain outside the U.S. while their visas are processed.
The administration also claims that relaxing the rule will also "create efficiencies for both the U.S. government and most applicants," giving the public 60 days to comment, a formality since the DHS has indicated that the change is pretty much a done deal.
Opponents decry the proposals as being part of the Obama Administration's larger plan to blow off Congress by using its executive powers to grant illegal immigrants backdoor amnesty. The plan has been in the works for years and in 2010 Texas's largest newspaper published an exposé about a then-secret DHS initiative that systematically cancelled pending deportations.
This program pole axed the legal profession and baffled immigration attorneys who said the government bounced their clients' deportation even when expulsion was virtually guaranteed.
A newspaper obtained internal Homeland Security documents last year outlining "sweeping changes" in immigration enforcement that halt the deportation of illegal aliens with no criminal records. This also includes a nationwide "training program" to assure that enforcement agents and prosecuting attorneys don't remove illegal immigrants who haven't been convicted of crimes.
© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: Depaertment of Homeland Security, illegal aliens, relatives of immigrants
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Sorry I haven't been on in a while. JoAnn: "It's not that there aren't LEGAL ways to enter our country!" Yes. For the average immigrant, it is very difficult to get in legally, though. People should make all effort to enter legally, but I can't say I view a family who's living in a home for the homeless illegally on the same level as a bank robber or a rapist. "Never mind the thousands of dollars our government paid to buy that land." Hah! If only we were that innocent. We paid thousands of dollars for much of the land. But for the most part, we pushed Native Americans and Mexicans out with force. The Mexican-American War was provoked by the U.S. in order to obtain land. Texas was founded by illegal immigrants from the U.S. "They aren't coming here to meld into our way of life." I agree with you and Theresa H. that immigrants, lillegal or legal, should learn English. It's only for their benefit, in an English-speaking country. I don't get why Spanish billboards or Spanish masses are a bad thing though. The Spanish language is beautiful. What makes English or Latin superior? I can't help thinking of the people who have bumperstickers on their cars that say "YOU press 1 for English!!!" Do you have any idea how hard it is for people who don't know English to live in America? Sure, they have their Little Mexicos and their Chinatowns. But they still have to struggle each day to do simple things like buy groceries. The least we English-speaking people can do is press an additional button after dialing whatever product service we have dialed. Think about it: if you moved to a country with a different language, wouldn't it be nice if the Mass was in your home language? Learn the new language, yes. But it's not like you have to drop the old culture like a live grenade. Judy: Crime is one thing. Ethnicity is another. I don't think it's really fair to blame California's problems on Hispanics (who, apprently, don't like to be called that).
Vance: He is also targeting FELONS. In and out of prison. God bless.
This article shines the light on why we should get rid of this boondoggle called Homeland Security. This is a scam and needs to be gone. Why is Barry Soetoro ordering his puppet to grant citizenship to illegal aliens? VOTES!! The Marxist Democrat Party has already thrown the White Middle Class Workers under the bus. They are not voting for him. Barry is appealing to his robo followers among the White College Crowd and minorities. However, there are many Hispanic Catholics who are well aware of Barry's attack on the Catholic Church and how his policies have thrown millions of them out of work. Barry needs new blood and he is targeting the illegal aliens for their vote.
Wow! Very Interesting responses. And every one worth reading. All Catholics w/a lot of different viewpoints. Renton: I understand your thoughts. I don't think I would like it very well, to answer your questions. However, we must remember the times. We may not think it correct behavior now, but it was acceptable then. Theresa H: Excellent explanations. Rob and Bulbajer: Do you live in L.A., Ca? Where 70% of population is Hispanic? Border, drugs, crime, gangs, Mexican cartels, etc. are the norm? When I was a child growing up, it was NOT. What happened? NO Question...it changed! and we need to protect our borders. All this started in the 60's. Rob, still think JoAnn just listens to a "few"? IT"s real...Wake up. I feel sorry for anyone who has children that has to live there. If one does live there, Catholic schools are the only way to go. And then they are expensive. Ask me why the schools are a mess? Ask me what kids go? How sad is it when 25% of the nations seniors do not graduate? Where do you live if you don't mind my asking? I would guess that Theresa H. in Florida agrees. Prisons are a real issue. And yes, I feel sorry for those who are trying to leave a country for a better life, but w/o law and order for the common good of society, we return to the break down of society, barbarism. Amnesty under Reagan: Once. And no more. How many times do we give amnesty? If one feels its okay to break the law because they will receive amnesty, why not give it out freely to all those who commit crimes because we feel sorry for them? Like they only had one parent, or were in a foster home. The buck stops here. Amnesty stops now. Breaking the law stops now or their are consequences. Grow-up. There is Responsibility, Accountability and Consequences. These three words pertain to the Secular, Religious, Law, Social Justice, Morals and those Practicing Catholicism. More could be added but you get the picture. A simple Common Sense 101 by the Obama administration would be delightful! Easter Blessings...
JoAnn, I don't think you can compare the immigration of yester years to today. Back then we lived the statement "bring us your tired and hungry," today we do nothing of the sort. There are still lots of hungry coming. There are still lots of people wanting to make a better life for them and their families. But they aren't welcomed anymore. I listen to a podcast every week from a priest in the Netherlands. It's a great show. I have always been impressed with how many languages people in Europe know. Personally, I could care less if someone wants to speak the language of their ancestral country. I don't expect little Italy in Boston to speak English to me when I walk in their shops (and they don't) or the same in China town in San Fransciso. One of the guys in my men's group volunteers with Catholic charities preparing people for citizenship exams. If they are luck enough to be given one, they still have to take a history exam. Fix our broken immigration system and maybe we can get back to normal.
Reading the "Comments," I have a few observations and some questions: In our Church we have a Spanish-Mass for our Mexican population. They come from all across the county because they don't want to attend Mass in English--(Forget about the "Tridentine Latin Mass" [which is growing in appreciation], in the "traditional" language of the Catholic Church multiple centuries-old "Latin Rite" across many countries around the world--that we used to attend--and the hand Missals we had with the translation into our native language--if we wanted one.) Now, "from the [literally] sublime to the ridiculous:" here in FL, we are also starting to see Spanish billboards along our roads. I wonder: what about the French and the German-speaking, etc., etc., population(s) that immigrate to our country...? What do you think would happen if all of them would be unwilling to share a common language when we come together in our Churches and in public? All I can think is: "United we stand, divided we fall." No doubt, today we are divided in many ways in our nation--in matters of consequence. "Language" is just one symptom--but perhaps the ultimate? Another question: When the settlers started coming from Europe, do we know what the size of the native population was at the time? Was there any government across the land? I'm not an American History Major, but I think people started coming because of word that came to them about the "vastness" of the mostly un-populated "territory".... Here, the early settlers found their "freedom"--for what was eventually called "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!" People came together, seeing the need for a stable government to maintain order, via just laws and they carved in stone a national "Motto: In God is our trust!" (Times have certainly changed!) Little by little, the values iterated in our Founding Documents are being challenged, "tested" today--as to "whether this nation or any other nation, so conceived and so dedicated can long endure!" I fear for our "endurance," we are becoming so divided--to the point of challenging even the notion of a common language both in our churches and in public--even on our streets! Remember the story of the Tower of Babel?
Rob: Accepting our laws probably would have been a better way to say it. We don't need Sharia law, we don't need Mexican laws or Irish laws or German laws, etc. If people want to leave their country because they believe it is better some place else then they have to accept that country and its laws. If you moved to France or anywhere else, would you expect them to adapt to our Constitution or add it to their laws for you? My grandparents came over here from Italy and Ireland because they wanted something better for their families and themselves. They didn't expect the US to make exceptions for them. They had to learn english and study our laws. And then they had to take tests of what they learned. And they did not get their citizenship until the were well educated about our country and passed those tests. When they got their citizenship, they were so proud. They didn't complain, harp on injustices, etc. They worked hard and made something of themselves. They didn't pay allegiance to their country flags anymore. They were Americans and loved our Flag. That's what I mean. We have a beautiful document in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution and nowhere on this Earth do people have freedom like we do. (At least, up til now) Like Reagan said. "If we lose freedom here, where will the rest of the world go." If we ever lose freedom here, we will never see it again. Freedom is just one generation away from extinction. We do not pass it down through the bloodstream, it has to be fought for. You think we are hard on "illegals" now. You should read history regarding what previous presidents did about the influx of Illegals. Read about Truman and Eisenhower and what they did. No country is more tolerant of illegals as the US is right now, and, I'm sorry to say, if we do not get control of this problem, it will be the undoing of this nation. God bless.
I do not remember the illegal immirgrants who resettled this country adapting to the local culture, the illegals ended up putting them in schools to teach them there ideas and way of life and put them on reseverations. is this what is of concern???
JoAnn, what does it mean to adapt to our culture and live as we do? Living in New Mexico, I can tell you that as far as adapting is concerned, they seem to go to work as I do, are raising families, taking kids to school, going to church, shopping etc. I'm not sure I understand what that comment means? Sure, you can focus on the whackos, but I would be careful not to generalize an entire population of people based on the outlandish comments of a few.
I have always found it somewhat odd that for a party that treats Reagan like a god, they would be so against amnesty for illegal immigrants given the last amnesty was his. I sure do miss common sense conservatism. I think some folks are going to need to see someone to treat their Obama derangement syndrome. I think they make a pill for that.