Thank you, President Obama!

United African Organization applauds President Obama's courageous decision to grant relief to undocumented youth in the United States

President Barack Obama today announced that undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children will be safe from deportation and be able to obtain work permits. The move was made possible through an executive order. The President said he was acting "in the absence of any immigration action from Congress to fix our broken immigration system."

The Obama administration will use its administrative authority to grant, on a case-by-case basis, deferred action and work authorization to young people who are not in deportation proceedings and who meet the following criteria:

• Entered the United States before the age of 16 and are not older than 30.

• Have continuously lived in the United States for at least five years.

• Are currently in school, have graduated from high school or obtained a GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or U.S. Armed Forces.

• Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, or multiple misdemeanor offenses.

According to the National Immigration Law Center, close to a million people in the U.S. will benefit from this new policy:

"This is a hard-won victory that comes after years of immigrant youth–led sacrifices, actions, creative organizing, and steadfast advocacy. DREAMers have worked hard to help the administration and the American public understand the situation these young Americans-at-heart face. For those who will be granted relief under the administration’s new policy, America is their one and only home. This policy change will make a significant difference in DREAMers’ lives and America will also reap the benefits of their many contributions."

- National Immigration Law Center

"This is a very exciting step in our struggle for the dignity and rights of all immigrants to the U.S.!" - Tara Weinberg, Research and Policy Associate, United African Organization