Immigration agents sue over new deferred deportation program

Los Angeles Times, 8/23/2012

A small group of immigration agents is suing the Obama administration, saying that the agents should not be required to implement a program to grant work permits and halt the deportation of some young illegal immigrants.

The lawsuit alleges that the program, as well as directives issued last year that require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to use broader discretion in immigration cases, violates a 1996 federal law that requires federal agents to put into deportation proceedings those who entered the country unlawfully.

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Thousands of illegal immigrants seek permits under new program

Los Angeles Times, 8/14/2012

Valdivia, a 19-year-old UC Riverside student, was one of hundreds to appear Wednesday at the offices of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles seeking help in applying for work permits.

Tens of thousands more like him lined up nationwide on the first day of a new federal program that would allow people who were brought here illegally as children to defer deportation and obtain work permits provided they meet certain criteria, such as no serious criminal record.

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Mexico to aid undocumented immigrant youths at 50 consular offices

Mercury News, 07/23/2012

The Mexican Embassy on Monday opened the doors to its San Jose, San Francisco and 48 other consular offices across the United States to undocumented immigrant youths seeking work permits and deportation relief through a new Obama administration directive.

The U.S. government won’t begin accepting deportation relief applications until Aug. 15, but the Mexican government will help eligible young people apply by giving them information and ensuring they have the proper documents, said Juan Carlos Lara-Armienta, the Mexican Embassy’s head of Latino affairs.

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