As President Obama's announcement of executive action on immigration grows nearer, details about his plan are starting to emerge. The plan will grant amnesty and work permits to an estimated 5 million illegal aliens and provide more work visas for foreign tech workers.
According to the New York Times, up to four million illegal aliens who have lived in the United States for at least five years can apply for executive amnesty. Those with no criminal record will be allowed to work legally in the country.
Additionally, one million people will get protection from deportation with the expansion of DACA, including the elimination of the age limit on those who qualify. Since its implementation in 2012, DACA has granted deferred action from deportation for nearly 600,000 illegal aliens.
President Obama is also expected to "provide new guidance for the nation’s immigration enforcement agents and revamp the legal immigration system to provide more opportunities for high-tech workers from other countries," according to the New York Times.
However, sources briefed on President Obama's plan indicated that the executive action would not provide specific protection from deportation for DREAMers' parents, as suggested in earlier reports. Also, as with DREAMers currently protected under DACA, the 5 million illegal aliens granted amnesty would not be eligible for government subsidies for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act.
President Obama is set to announce his plan at 8 p.m. ET before heading to Las Vegas, Nevada for a Friday event to rally support for the plan. The event will be held at Del Sol High School, the same location where President Obama called on Congress to pass "comprehensive immigration reform" in 2013.
For more on this story, see The New York Times
