Thank God!  Finally, a hand reached out in humanity and compassion to innocent young people!  It’s limited compassion, but it’s a step toward forgiveness of young people persecuted for doing nothing wrong except being the children of their parents.

President Barack Obama is announcing today a reprieve for 800,000 children of immigrant parents. No deportation for two years, for those who qualify.

The hand of compassion the President offers by executive order is temporary. A two-year reprieve. The young people will continue to live in anxiety about the future. And they will carry a sorrowful burden of worry about their parents and grandparents. The two-year reprieve offers no “path to citizenship.” Not for the children, and certainly not for the adults. These young people remain children without a country.

What will be the backlash? Will Americans demand that parents and grandparents be deported as a sacrifice for the lives of their children? Is President Obama sacrificing his presidency? Can Republicans tolerate a little compassion?

The irony is that these children of hard-working immigrants can play a critical role in the future strength and greatness of the United States.

— John Hayden

Related articles

• Obama’s Deportation Policies Have Failed, Immigrant Advocates Say (npr.org)
• Deportation Delayed For Undocumented Student After Washington Post Article (thinkprogress.org)
• Law Professors Agree: Obama Has Executive Power To Provide Relief To Dreamers (hispanicallyspeakingnews.com)
• DREAMers Stage Sit-ins at Obama Office to Force Deportation Standoff (colorlines.com)