The U.S. government has announced that it will stop deporting illegal immigrants who came to the country as children and who do not pose a threat to national security.
The move applies to minors brought to the United States before the age of 16, who are currently under 30, are in school or have graduated from high school, and have not been convicted of a felony.
In a statement, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, "Our nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner" but are "not designed to be blindly enforced."
According to The Associated Press, as many as 800,000 immigrants will be affected.
The policy change, which bypasses Congress, is likely to be seen as a bid by President Barack Obama to secure the youth and Hispanic vote in the presidential election this November.
The move applies to minors brought to the United States before the age of 16, who are currently under 30, are in school or have graduated from high school, and have not been convicted of a felony.
In a statement, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, "Our nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner" but are "not designed to be blindly enforced."
According to The Associated Press, as many as 800,000 immigrants will be affected.
The policy change, which bypasses Congress, is likely to be seen as a bid by President Barack Obama to secure the youth and Hispanic vote in the presidential election this November.