Certain young illegal immigrants can apply to legally live and work temporarily in the United States starting on Aug. 15. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) called the launch of the new policy “a really important day in our nation’s history,” speaking in an Aug. 14 telephone press conference.
“DREAMers can finally come out of the shadows,” said Boxer.
The name DREAMers comes from the DREAM Act legislation, which would have allowed some illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children to stay. Congress rejected the bill.
President Barack Obama then directed the Department of Homeland Security to grant deferred action to certain people. Critics said he overstepped his authority, and supporters said enforcement discretion is a long-standing principle.
The new policy means federal authorities will allow the same people who would have been covered by the legislation to apply to temporarily stay and work rather than hide for fear of being deported.
President Obama announced the new policy on June 15. The government has had 60 days to get ready to implement it.
Only people who came to the United States when they were under 16 years old, were under 31 as of June 15, have lived here since 2007, and were here on June 15 can apply.
