Obama provides legal status to five million illegal immigrant

Washington US President Barack Obama today bypassed Congress to announce the most sweeping immigration reform in a generation that will protect 5 million illegal workers from deportation and may benefit hundreds and thousands of Indian techies seeking legal permanent statusBarak ObamaObama rejected accusations by conservatives that he is offering a free pass to undocumented immigrants and warned in a primetime address that he would bolster border security and make it harder for unauthorised outsiders to get into the countryThe executive action said to be one of the largest measure by a US President on immigration is expected to help a significant number of Indian techies who currently have to undergo a painful and agonising process of H1B visas to get legal permanent status LPR popularly known as Green CardObama described his unilateral action as a commonsense middleground approach that will allow otherwise lawabiding immigrants to come out of the shadows and get right with the law He said a mass deportation of the nations more than 11 million undocumented immigrants would be both impossible and contrary to our characterAccording to some estimates there are 45 illegal Indian immigrants in the US Obamas plan would let parents of US citizens and legalpermanent residents remain in the country temporarily without the threat of deportation The measure would apply to those who have been in the US for last five yearsThe move provides portable work authorisation for highskilled workers awaiting LPR status and their spouses Under the current system employees with approved LPR applications often wait many years for their visa to become available a White House fact sheet saidWell build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings and speed the return of those who do cross over Obama said Ill make it easier and faster for highskilled immigrants graduates and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy as so many business leaders have proposedWell take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country he said The Department of Homeland Security DHS will make regulatory changes to allow these workers to move or change jobs more easilyDHS is finalising new rules to give certain H1B spouses employment authorisation as long as the H1B spouse has an approved LPR application Obama said even as the US is a nation of immigrants it is also a nation of laws and undocumented workers broke thecountrys immigration laws and must be held accountable especially those who may be dangerousThats why over the past six years deportations of criminals are up 80 per cent And thats why were going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security Felons not families Criminals not children Gang members not a mom whos working hard to provide for her kids Well prioritise just like law enforcement does every day he saidObama the measures he is enacting would refocus federal border control agents on the highestpriority cases such as felons gang members and recent bordercrossers that he called collectively actual threats to our security Obama said immigrants work hard often in tough low paying jobs to support their familiesThey worship at our churches Many of their kids are Americanborn or spent most of their lives here and their hopes dreams and patriotism are just like ours As my predecessor President Bush once put it They are a part of American life he saidObama said the deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future It does not grant citizenship or theright to stay here permanently or offer the same benefits that citizens only Congress can do that All were saying is were not going to deport you he said