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Memo outlines backdoor 'amnesty' plan

Immigration staffers cite tools available without reform

Associated Press
PROTEST PARADE: Immigrant rights advocates march across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York to demand full repeal of Arizona's new illegals law. The Obama administration is considering a backdoor approach to stop many deportations.Associated Press PROTEST PARADE: Immigrant rights advocates march across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York to demand full repeal of Arizona's new illegals law. The Obama administration is considering a backdoor approach to stop many deportations.
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With Congress gridlocked on an immigration bill, the Obama administration is considering using a back door to stop deporting many illegal immigrants - what a draft government memo said could be "a non-legislative version of amnesty."

The memo, addressed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas and written by four agency staffers, lists tools it says the administration has to "reduce the threat of removal" for many illegal immigrants who have run afoul of immigration authorities.

"In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform, USCIS can extend benefits and/or protections to many individuals and groups by issuing new guidance and regulations, exercising discretion with regard to parole-in-place, deferred action and the issuance of Notices to Appear," the staffers wrote in the memo, which was obtained by Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican.

The memo suggests that in-depth discussions have occurred on how to keep many illegal immigrants in the country, which would be at least a temporary alternative to the proposals Democrats in Congress have made to legalize illegal immigrants.

Chris Bentley, a USCIS spokesman, said drafting the memo doesn't mean the agency has embraced the policy and "nobody should mistake deliberation and exchange of ideas for final decisions."

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"As a matter of good government, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will discuss just about every issue that comes within the purview of the immigration system," he said in an e-mail statement. "We continue to maintain that comprehensive bipartisan legislation, coupled with smart, effective enforcement, is the only solution to our nation's immigration challenges."

He said the Homeland Security Department "will not grant deferred action or humanitarian parole to the nation's entire illegal immigrant population."

The memo does talk about targeting specific groups of illegal immigrants.

Mr. Grassley said it confirms his fears that the administration is trying an end-run around Congress.

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Comments

New User 81a5f says:

1 day, 15 hours ago

Mark as offensive

If being just a person makes us illegal immigrants...then I guess everyone who has made a comment here including myself (a legal citizen) is to be called an illegal immigrant. This illegal immigration situation is what native Americans called it: "white people" now they are called "Latinos" or illegal aliens. There are many immigrants who had made it to this country in search of hope and a life. "And many of them have not sneaked in the country illegally, but had become illegal because of the difficult immigration laws that stop them from acquiring a legal status, maybe they came here with a dream, many of them highly educated, talented and well prepared people who just want an opportunity to perform their gifts for this beautiful Country "The United States of America" and maybe they are running away from danger, poverty and a system of government who do not reassure their survival. Why can't we put our pride to the side and lend a hand to those who need just that: acceptance and a human understanding of their situation. We "Americans" are the product of someone who lent a hand to our ancestor's cry in the past!

New User 20283 says:

1 month ago

Mark as offensive

Why don't Democrats ever tell the truth? We arte not talking about immigrants who enter the country through the orderly process set down by the Feds. We are talking about illegal aliens, squatters, stowaways, tax cheats, whatever term is the most politically correct.

At issue is whether Obama, Pelosi & Reid will be able to legalize these law breakers so that the Social/Democrat Party can dominate the country with its dictatorship for several generations to come. This particular maneuver is a test end run around the legislative process. They essentially can do this with impunity with a soon to be stacked Supreme Court so the matter essentially is moot.

sofedup says:

1 month ago

Mark as offensive

By thier own admissions people in Arizona were preparing to leave and then this judge put an injunction in place. Whew they all breathed a sigh of releif. As a LEGAL IMMIGRANT I find the lack of enforcement of the nations immigrations laws shameful. Bush , Obama , num-nutts, it idoesn't matter, we want the ILLEGAL ALIENS out ! No amnesty. People who legally immigrate are deserving of thte term IMMIGRANT, those who sneak across our borders and creep onto our shores, deserve the ILLEGAL ALIEN brand and they deserve to be picked up and deported. We are not being safe guarded even against decease. Part of the legal immigration process are health checks for those entering the country. Even this is absent in this situation. And make sure you understand me, I do not have s special place for Mexicans in this. Russians, Britts, Irish, Mopngolian, Korean, Argentinians, Cubans, Hatians, any body entering ILLEGALLY. What is so difficult about ILLEGAL!!!!!????

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