Colorado Democrats commend Obama's "smarter immigration policy"

Colorado Democratic leaders are applauding the Obama Administration's newly proposed immigration policy, a measure that would permit undocumented spouses and children of United States citizens to remain in the country during the legal immigration process. Under current law, undocumented family members of United States citizens must leave the country while...

By Kylie Horner

January 17, 2012

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Colorado Democratic leaders are applauding the Obama Administration's newly proposed immigration policy, a measure that would permit undocumented spouses and children of United States citizens to remain in the country during the legal immigration process.

Under current law, undocumented family members of United States citizens must leave the country while their green card is being processed.

"We commend Obama for bringing humanity to the way our immigration system has been working," Denver City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega said at a press conference last week. "It's a humane way of creating opportunities for allowing families to stay together without being torn apart."

According to Mark Fritz, immigration policy director at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, "4.5 million children have at least one undocumented parent." In an effort to keep mixed-status families together, the Obama Administration immigration policy works to streamline the process of securing legal status.

The Department of Homeland Security is currently reviewing over 300,000 immigration cases, with an effort to weed out those that are low priority.

"The change we're discussing...obviously won't solve every immigration problem," Fritz said, "but for the families who will be kept together, it will make a world of difference."

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