Top immigration headlines for September 2012 focused on illegal immigrants and their rights in this country. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is gaining a foothold, and with it comes immigrants who are nervous as to how it will play out, as well as questions about their access to federal health care.
In addition, the US was criticized for various policies regarding illegal immigration. Lawsuits, program endings and tough questions for President Obama were all part of the immigration headlines for September 2012.
1. DREAM Act-lite: 7 in 100 eligible illegal immigrants apply, so far
According to David Grant of the Christian Science Monitor, about 7 percent of the 1.2 million eligible immigrants have applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program so far. Though some consider this a low turnout, some immigration experts claim that certain factors have convinced many immigrants to wait to apply.
For example, the upcoming presidential election leaves some uncertain as to whether the program will be continued, since this depends on who wins. Also, some are uncomfortable coming forward yet and want to make sure others have success before they apply.
2. Immigrants Claim U.S. Improperly Denied Them Residency After They Spent Millions Creating Jobs
Courthouse News reported to Opposing Views that 18 immigrants are suing US Citizenship & Immigration Services for rejecting their application for residency. The immigrants, who come from 9 different countries, claim they spent $11.5 million and created almost 300 jobs for US citizens in California.
Under the EB-5 visa, they presumably followed the rules of creating at least 10 jobs and spending $500,000 in a targeted employment area, yet they were rejected. The objective of the immigrants involved in the case is to get residency for themselves and their families.
3. For immigrants, ?deferred status? still means no federal health insurance
Some supporters of Obama?s new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are disappointed with some aspects, according to Mariano Castillo of CNN. Specifically, they are upset that those eligible for deferred status cannot receive federal health insurance because they are not technically legal residents.
The Department of Health and Human Services claims the immigrants eligible for the program cannot take advantage of Medicaid or subsidies for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. However, they can get insurance through their employers.
4. President Barack Obama grilled on failed immigration promise, consulate attacks
Marc Caputo and Patricia Mazzei reported in the Tampa Bay Times that President Obama was asked hard questions about immigration when he appeared on a Univision show. Though many Hispanics have expressed satisfaction with his immigration policies, some believe his changes have not done enough.
The questions on the show also mentioned the attack on a US consulate on September 11, where there is some confusion as to whether it was planned by a terrorist group or a country.
5. Program flying migrants back to Mexico suspended
Since 2004, the US government has been flying illegal immigrants home after being caught at the border in Arizona. But according to an article on TucsonCitizen.com, Mexico is no longer agreeing to the program because the US has recently decided to allow immigrants with criminal convictions to take the plane ride home, often sharing the plane with families that include women and children.
The US made this decision because there have been so few immigrants taking the plane home lately that the program was too costly to continue, since many planes were nearly empty. Mexican officials claim the change is unsafe for families caught crossing the border and are working on an alternative.
Source: http://www.legallanguage.com/legal-articles/immigration-september-2012/
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