President Obama's announcement that he will temporarily halt the deportation of some young students and veterans who are in this country illegally is a step that is in some respects worrisome — and yet one he's right to take.
FOR THE RECORD: A previous version of the headline referred to a change in the Obama administration’s deportation enforcement policy as an executive order. In fact, the policy change came as a directive from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
FAQs updated January 18, 2013
On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion. Deferred action does not provide an individual with lawful status.
It is beginning to look as if we were much safer without a Homeland Security Department.