Small Changes Could Make Big Difference for Immigrants

Common sense changes to the immigration laws could help a lot of immigrants get legal status and become citizens.   - - Donna Poisl

by Julián Aguilar

 As Congress prepares for what is expected to be a contentious debate over immigration reform, with issues like the DREAM Act and what kind of reforms constitute "amnesty" expected to be at the forefront, immigration lawyers say addressing lesser-known and arcane policies could be just as important and effective.

The White House has reiterated its intent to present a comprehensive immigration reform plan this year, but immigration attorneys are viewing the debate through a pragmatic lens. And they argue that more minor changes to laws enacted almost 20 years ago could affect immigration as much as two major recent immigration policies from the administration: last year's deferred action policy, which grants certain undocumented immigrants a reprieve from deportation proceedings and legal permission to work for two years; and last week’s announcement that the administration in March will allow certain visa applicants who have admitted to being here illegally to obtain a waiver to re-enter the country while their application is being processed instead of being barred from the U.S. for up to 10 years. 
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