Work Authorization Needed for Immigrants Provided Prosecutorial Discretion

 In 2011 the Obama Administration issued prosecutorial discretion guidance to U.S. immigration officers and announced a nationwide review of court cases of immigrants considered low-priority for removal. This announcement generated great hope that undocumented immigrants who came to this country as young children and undocumented parents with children, seniors, and young adults seeking to complete post-secondary education in the United States would finally have a chance to live and work in the U.S. without fear.

Unfortunately it appears that only a small number of immigrants in deportation proceedings, approximately ten percent, have been affected by the new guidance on prosecutorial discretion. Also, the provision of work authorization that was reported to be a part of administrative closures has not happened. Work authorization is critical for the health and well being of families. To address this flaw in the Obama Administration’s policies on prosecutorial discretion, the Catholic bishops’ Justice for Immigrants campaign has initiated a letter-writing campaign to President Obama. Click here to send a letter to the President requesting that work authorization be issued for immigrants provided prosecutorial discretion from deportation.