Obama administration’s immigration changes begin Wednesday
WASHINGTON — Immigration authorities are bracing for a deluge of applications Wednesday, the first day when more than 1.2 million young illegal immigrants who were brought to America as children can seek to legally stay and work in the country under a policy change by President Obama.
Even before the first request is filed, critics and advocates alike are warning of potential budget shortfalls and a logjam of paperwork that could mar the initiative, delay processing and facilitate fraud.
Advocacy groups have planned public celebrations, legal aid seminars, and other events in major cities to herald a program that has sparked rejoicing and relief in immigrant communities, and anger among Republicans who view it as a White House ploy for Latino support in an election year and a backdoor amnesty that usurps congressional authority.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which will review the applications, is expecting about 1.2 million applications on top of the 6 million applications it normally adjudicates for citizenship, residency and work visas every year, officials said.
Advocacy groups estimate more than 1.7 million undocumented children and young adults may be eligible, although it’s unknown how many will apply or how quickly. Those granted approval will be given a two-year deferral from deportation and legal authorization to work.
Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said application forms would be posted Tuesday afternoon at uscis.gov, and can be submitted starting Wednesday.
‘While individual processing times may vary, individual requests will take several months to process,’ Mayorkas said.