UF reacts to Obamas plan to reform US immigration system

UF students and faculty are reacting to President Barack Obamas announcement on major immigration reforms.

On Nov. 20, Obama announced his three-step plan for immigration reform, which includes providing additional resources for border patrol officials, allowing graduates and high-skilled immigrants to remain in the U.S., and dealing with about 4 million immigrants who have been living in the U.S. illegally.

After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time, Obama said in announcement. They work hard often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families.

The plan allows immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than five years without permission or who have American-born children to pay taxes and pass background checks in exchange for temporary residence for three years.

UF political science and African studies senior Brianna Williams is an executive board member for UF Dream Defenders. She said the plan is a step in the right direction, but there needs to be a long-term plan in motion.

He basically just put a temporary stamp on it and, in three years, when this deferred action goes out, then people will be in this same situation, the 20-year-old said.

The plan could impact immigrants now in colleges across the country who were brought to the U.S. as children.

Obama said people who have been living in the U.S. without permission who excel academically and professionally in the U.S. should not be forced to leave the country.

Paul Ortiz, a UF associate history professor, said some UF students belong to families living in the U.S. without permission and constantly have to deal with changing immigration statuses.

What weve recognized here is that this issue of immigration affects far more of our students and members of our community than we understand, Ortiz said.

Here is the original post:
UF reacts to Obamas plan to reform US immigration system

Related Posts

Comments are closed.