Florida residents may be interested in a new change to immigration law enforcement that could help many illegal immigrants stay in the country and obtain basic benefits and rights. The policy gives military benefits and legal status to illegal immigrants who are the spouses, children or parents of members of the United States military.
President Obama enacted the immigration policy without Congressional approval. Critics say that the President didn’t give citizens the opportunity to provide feedback on the policy before it was enacted, and some have even said that the way the policy was enacted may be illegal. However, the administration has said that the policy is legal because it is based on current law and not a new law. Its supporters say the law is long overdue.
The policy could help individuals who are married to service members and have lived most of their lives in the United States as illegal aliens. One veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan said the policy would help his wife who was brought to the country illegally as a child and has lived most of her life here. The veteran said that he and the couple’s children had access to his military benefits and all the rights of a citizen. His wife did not, but that will change with the implementation of the new policy.
Thousands of people who have lived most of their lives in the United States are considered to be illegal immigrants because they were brought here as children. Although they consider the United States their home, they may not have the same opportunities that citizens or legal immigrants have. In particular, they may not have a social security number, which could prevent them from finding employment or attending school. As this policy indicates, more legal routes are opening for illegal immigrants to legally participate in American society.
Source: FOX News, “Immigration change gives legal status to undocumented relatives of US military“, Dan Gallo, March 11, 2014
