What You Need to Know About Immigration Policy Under Obama

During his campaign, President Obama promised to reform immigration law in the United States. It has been an uphill battle.

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Complex Original

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While campaigning for his first term in 2008, President Barack Obama won over Democratic Hispanic voters by promising comprehensive immigration reform in his first year as president—reform that would allow millions of illegal immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship. He failed to fulfill that promise in his first term, focusing instead on health care. Now, his current immigration reform bill is stuck in limbo because House Republicans do not want to pass it without concessions. Despite his inability to pass the bill without the support of Congress, President Obama has affected immigration policy by working around the existing laws and using his executive powers. Here are 10 things that you need to know about how Obama has changed immigration policy since taking office.

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The focus is on deporting criminals.

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A large number of minor criminals are still being deported.

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Obama expanded a program that checks the fingerprints of suspected criminals.

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Young people who were brought into the country as children will no longer be deported.

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The immediate relatives of American citizens can apply for a visa.

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A memo instructed ICE agents to avoid deporting the undocumented parents of minor children.

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The largest increase in deportations involved undocumented immigrants who violated traffic laws.

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Deportations of people who enter or re-enter the country illegally have tripled under Obama.

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Immigration officials set a quota to amp up deportations.

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Facing protests, Obama promised to make his deportation programs “more humane.”

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