Obama's immigration initiative pays off

WASHINGTON (CMC):

New United States federal data shows that President Barack Obama's immigration initiative has paid off for 454,000 young Caribbean and other immigrants who were brought to the US illegally.

Under the 'deferred action' initiative that took effect late last year, 26,000 New York residents were granted immunity from prosecution for at least two years, the third-highest in the country.

The data shows that California has the most residents who received waivers followed by Texas.

The 26,000 deferments approved in New York 'long a hub for immigration' represent about a third of the 79,000 people thought to be eligible.

The US government said it has reviewed 470,000 deferred-action applications, an initiative announced during Obama's re-election campaign to help young people get documented after the US Congress failed to pass the Dream Act.

The programme lets people under 31, who came to the United States when they were under 16, to apply for a permit to avoid deportation. They will then get papers allowing them to work or get a driver's licence.

Those accepted can avoid deportation for two years and can apply to get their status renewed, though there is no guarantee how long the programme will last.

"The fact that Congress is poised to pass immigration reform in 2013 has had an impact on people's interest in applying for temporary relief," said Jacqueline Esposito, of the New York Immigration Coalition.