Immigration policy has seen significant swings through the years - from the amnesty program signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 to harsh laws cracking down on illegal immigrants in Arizona and other states in recent years.

Under President Obama, deportations hit historic highs, resulting in large immigration court backlogs. Last year, Obama began rolling out directives to shift policies aimed to focus immigration enforcement on dangerous people and national security threats.

In some cases, prosecutors are encouraged to use the tool of legal discretion to stop a deportation. In other cases - known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals - prosecutors can halt deportation for young people who meet certain criteria. Neither action grants legal status or a path to citizenship.

For law-abiding youth, the deferred action does mean they get a chance to obtain a Social Security number, a two-year work permit and possibly a driver's license.

In the World’s continuing coverage, meet a brother and sister who didn’t know they were undocumented immigrants until junior high and now have a reprieve from being deported. Learn more about the deferred action process and find links to resources on the issue.



Jose Cano, (left) of Tulsa, joins a crowd of over 300 as he listens to a deferred action forum at Plaza Santa Cecilia in east Tulsa on August 15. Organizers of the event said they expected about 50 people to attend the meeting. Rebekah Guthrie, an attorney, answered questions from the audience about the deferred action application that was released to the public on Wednesday. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World



Headlines
Bipartisan immigration reform has many optimistic for positive changes Bipartisan immigration reform has many optimistic for positive changes   1/31/2013

Ivan Godinez Reyes received approval on Christmas Eve to stay in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Immigration enforcement outspends other agencies   1/8/2013

Immigration enforcement receives more funding and refers more cases for criminal prosecution than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined, according a report released Monday by the Migration Policy Institute.
OU students in U.S. illegally put face on immigration issue OU students in U.S. illegally put face on immigration issue   11/28/2012

Deisy Escalera considers Oklahoma her home. She graduated from high school here, goes to college here and pays taxes here. But in some respects, Escalera isn't an American - at least, not on paper.
Hispanic youths say future looks brighter Hispanic youths say future looks brighter   11/25/2012

Eleazar Velazquez got a text message from his mother during a Dream Act group meeting before the University of Oklahoma released classes for Thanksgiving.
Tulsan awaits U.S. Supreme Court decision on immigration Tulsan awaits U.S. Supreme Court decision on immigration   9/9/2012

The U.S. Supreme Court in October will hear arguments in a case that has featured a Tulsa immigrant in the legal briefs.
Q&A: Jorge Aguilar talks about his deportation   9/9/2012

In an email, Tulsa immigrant Jorge “George” Aguilar answered questions from the Tulsa World about his experience in detention, being taken to a country where he knows no one and how he has adjusted.
Clinic helps undocumented students with deferred action Clinic helps undocumented students with deferred action   8/26/2012

Miguel has never told anyone in his hometown of Sand Springs what he discovered as a teenager.
Youth immigrants begin process Youth immigrants begin process   8/17/2012

Attorneys' offices and education forums are filling up with requests for help from undocumented Oklahoma youths wanting to remain in the U.S. through a new federal program.
Siblings are first Oklahomans granted deportation reprieve under new immigration policies Siblings are first Oklahomans granted deportation reprieve under new immigration policies   8/11/2012

Gabby Tepe was in fifth grade when she discovered she was a Guatemalan immigrant.
Process set for undocumented youthful immigrants to remain in the U.S.   8/8/2012

Undocumented youth who arrived in the U.S. as children and led law-abiding lives now have guidelines and a process from the federal government for determining whether they qualify to remain in the country.
<< Previous Next >> 
Resources

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: The Department of Homeland Security has started the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Process. Individuals who demonstrate that they meet the guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and may be eligible for employment authorization. Click here for more information on the process.

Immigration Policy Center: A research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council with a mission to shape a rational conversation on immigration.

Migration Policy Institute:
A Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit think-tank analyzing movements of people worldwide.

Pew Hispanic Center: A project of the Pew Research Center to provide non-partisan research to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population. It does not take positions on public policy issues and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, a public charity based in Philadelphia.

Immigration in the Heartland: A journalism project between the Institute for Justice and Journalism and the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications and its Institute for Research and Training. Funded by a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. A gathering of immigration stories published and broadcast across the country.

TRAC ( Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse): A data gathering, research and distribution organization at Syracuse Univesity. Uses the Freedom of Information Act to routinely gather data on federal agencies.

Brookings Institution: A nonprofit Washington, D.C.-based public policy organization conducting research on a variety of subjects, including immigration.

Considered immigrant advocates:
National Immigration Forum
National Council of La Raza
Catholic Charities USA
Asian American Justice Center

Considered restrictionists:
Federation for American Immigration Reform
Minuteman Project
Americans for Legal Immigration
Center for Immigration Studies

-Compiled by Ginnie Graham, Tulsa World staff writer
By the numbers

1,042,625: Number of immigrants who obtained their green cards in 2010 to become legal permanent residents of the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics.

691,003: Number of immigrants in 2010 who entered the country through family-sponsored programs

148,343: Number of immigrants in 2010 who entered the country through the employment-based preference system and lesser numbers through diversity, refugee, asylum and other smaller programs.

7 percent: The number of individuals allowed to immigrate to the U.S. from any particular country is limited to 7 percent of the visas granted.
Reporters

ppCLEO
Ginnie Netherton Graham is a fifth-generation Oklahoman who has worked at the Tulsa World since 1994. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has covered immigration for about 10 years and her work includes examinations of issues on incarcerated women, poverty housing, early childhood education and group homes. Awards include the Great Plains Reporter of the Year last year and four Sweepstakes Awards for news coverage from the Associated Press-Oklahoma since 2000.
918-581-8376
ginnie.graham@tulsaworld.com





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