Executive Order Protects Millions of Undocumented Immigrants From Deportation

President Barack Obama revealed his latest immigration reform on Nov. 20, protecting at least 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. Through executive action, Obama’s reform would also direct immigration officials to concentrate on deporting criminals and those who pose a threat to national security, while protecting any children who were brought here illegally before Jan. 1, 2010.

With more than a million students being granted the opportunity to pursue college, this action will have an impact on institutions of higher education like Miami Dade College.

“Many of the people affected are our neighbors, friends, and colleagues, and many more are students in our classrooms at MDC,” said Miami Dade College President, Eduardo Padrón. “The recent action offers them a fair chance to enrich their lives, to come out of the shadows.”

For many students, the reform means having a chance to apply for in-state tuition and scholarships, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, and work authorization. Having basic documentation, many parents of students will have increased opportunities to provide for their children.

Among those covered in the latest changes are the Dreamers and their siblings. The Dreamers are a group of young adults and children who are under 31 years old and arrived to the United States before the age of 16. In 2011 through Deferred Action for Childhood, also known as DACA, these young immigrants were able to receive work permits and Social Security cards.

“This is a really big step in the immigration reform,” said Dreamer Katherine Marcelino,”However, since this does not directly affect me, I think it should have been more focused on the children.”

Marcelino is a current second-year student at MDC, pursuing an English degree. She does not qualify for legal immigration status after the coverage through DACA. People with DACA can have a work permit and study but it must be renewed after three years. They also cannot pursue any further legal documentation because it is temporary.

With the opportunity for many to pursue higher education, community colleges will see an influx of enrollment. This may mean a door of possibilities opened to immigrants who otherwise might not have a chance to go to college after high school.  

However, the current reform does not encompass a large part of the immigrant families and continues to leave out key players in the enhancement of higher education.

“For my small family, this announcement came a little too late,” said MDC student Jose Machado. “My mom was deported under the Obama administration over three years ago and had she been here still, she would have been able to apply for a work permit and a deportation deferral under this new program.”

President Obama’s actions will continue to need adjustments and changes to be implemented. Both  Marcelino and Machado said the recent immigration reform is not inclusive enough and does not provide actual solutions for many immigrant families. It just puts them in another kind of limbo.

But many see a bright future for the current generation and their immigration status.

“I want to say thank you to Obama,” Marcelino said. “He came in just at the right time to provide for many a huge glimmer of hope. It is still not complete, but anything is possible and we will get there.”