OBAMA TO UNVEIL EXECUTIVE PLAN TO AID UNDOCUMENTED AT 8PM TONIGHT

At 8pm ET tonight, President Obama will announce his unilateral plan to provide work permits and protection against deportation for up to 5 million of the 11 million immigrants illegally present in the U.S. It is anticipated the broadest action will likely be aimed at extending deportation protection for parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as long as those parents have been in the country for at least five years. Also anticipated is the broadening of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to include young immigrants who entered the US illegally as children but do not now qualify under the 2012 directive. DACA currently provides temporary protection against deportation and a work permit for certain young immigrants who arrived as children before age 16, were present on June 12, 2012, are currently attending school, graduated from high school or obtained a GED and have no criminal history.

Who exactly will benefit from the President’s plan will largely be determined by whether one meets the defined criteria he will forth, the deadlines to be imposed for the applications, and the cut-off dates announced. Republicans meanwhile are gearing up to take immediate action to counter the President, even threatening a government shut down as well as rolling back any proposed changes next year when they assume control of the Senate. One thing is clear is that not all of those currently undocumented in the US will benefit from any proposed action short of a blanket amnesty (covering those with criminal records, prior immigration violations, those permanently barred, who lack the required physical presence, or qualifying relatives.