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Obama Tackles Immigration Reform resident Obama took executive action last Thursday to temporarily shield up to 5 million undocumented workers and children from deportation, a measure that could affect a significant portion of Santa Barbara County residents. While there is no way to accurately count undocumented people, the Public Policy Institute of California estimates that the densest undocumented populations, roughly 9 percent of the state’s overall population, reside in Los Angeles County and on the Central Coast. A 2007 Grand Jury report estimated Santa Barbara County’s undocumented population at anyFOR THE FAMILIES: Hazel Putney-Davalos, Santa where between 29,000 and 75,000. Maria organizer for CAUSE, said that for an undocuThe advocacy group CAUSE mented family member of hers who is eligible under (Central Coast Alliance United the new program, “nothing else in the world matters” for a Sustainable Economy) puts besides gaining the legal protection that will allow him its current estimate at 39,000. And to stay with his kids. according to CAUSE organizer Hazel Putney-Davalos, over half of them will benefit from the president’s actions. the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan Those actions would expand the 2012 comprehensive immigration reform package,” Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Capps said in a statement, “and while similar (DACA) program, which allows those brought legislation introduced in the House has over to the U.S. as children to apply for work permits 200 bipartisan cosponsors, we have not had and two-year deportation deferrals. Under the a single opportunity to debate or vote on it on new regulations, the deferral period would the House floor.” expand to three years, and the cutoff date for Greg Gandrud, Central Coast Republican arrivals would be January 1, 2010, as opposed Committee vice chair, averred that reforming to June 15, 2007. There will also no longer be an immigration is the purview of Congress. But Gandrud questioned the legality of Obama’s upper age limit of 31. The president’s plan also creates a new defer- “political ploy” and suggested that it was a result ral program for the undocumented parents of a failure to seriously work on a bill. He called of citizens or permanent U.S. residents, like- for a policy that acknowledges all the various wise for three years at a time, including work categories of immigrant and that “maintains authorization. It does not include the parents American identity, American culture.” William Robinson, a professor of sociolof DACA-eligible children. Lastly, the president’s actions scrap the ogy at UCSB who studies immigration, agreed Secure Communities program that allows fed- with Gandrud that the president should have eral agents to request local law enforcement to focused more attention on immigration earlier, hold inmates past their jail terms so they can but he pointed out that Congress bears blame, be transferred to federal custody. According to as well. He also said that left out of the disthe Santa Barbara Sheriff ’s Office, 606 inmates cussion is U.S. policy regarding trade and the were released to Immigration and Customs drug war that has led to much of the migration Enforcement (ICE) in 2013, and 151 in 2014 (as from Latin America. Robinson added, “The U.S. economy and the global economy cannot of November 18). Santa Barbara immigration attorney Tanya function without immigrant labor. … So you De Vos explained that U.S. Immigration Ser- really can’t separate the ethical and humanitarvices will begin accepting petitions for newly ian side from the economic side.” eligible recipients of deferred action on or Protecting U.S. jobs, however, is exactly around May 20 (180 days after the announce- the reason that Joe Guzzardi, spokesperson ment). Those hoping to apply, she said, would for the Santa Barbara–based Californians for need to gather documents to verify they’ve had Population Stabilization, denounced Obama’s continuous residence since January 1, 2010. She announcement. Those who came here illegally, warned about “notario fraud” in which scam- he said, should not be rewarded, nor should mers take payment to guide applicants through they be competing with the most vulnerable the petition process. Hopeful deferrees will go for employment. “It’s against the law to employ illegal immigrants. If they are working, most to a trusted organization or lawyer, she said. The president did not offer a new pathway to of the jobs they hold are relatively low-paying, citizenship. Although many immigrant-rights so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to say we are advocates applauded Obama’s actions, they are going to legalize them because they are paying still holding out hope for congressional action, taxes. It is possible the taxes won’t even cover as is 24th District Congressmember Lois expenses of processing all the applications.” Capps. “It has been more than 500 days since ■
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november 26, 2014
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