News - National
360k more immigrants eligible for late deportation
Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:19 AM by Kirsten Bennett
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Migration Policy Institute says 360,000 more illegal immigrants than previously thought could qualify for deferred deportation when President Barack Obama's new policy takes effect August 15.
The private institute's U.S. Immigration Policy Program said Tuesday that as many as 1.76 million people could benefit from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program. In June, the institute said an estimated 1.4 million immigrants could be eligible.
Under the program, students currently enrolled in school could be granted a two-year reprieve from deportation if they can show they came to the U.S. under age 16; lived there for five years and have not been convicted of certain crimes. Previously, the program was open only to those who have graduated high school, received a GED or honorably left the military.
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