The federal government will suspend deportation proceedings against many illegal immigrants who do not pose a threat to national security or public safety, the White House has announced.
Republicans have decried the reform as backdoor amnesty, while Democratic congressional leaders praising the move said it would ease the way for individuals who came to the United States illegally as children and have already spent years in the country to stay and work legally.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano detailed the changes, on behalf of President Barack Obama, in a letter to Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, a long-time sponsor of immigration reform.
'Together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), we have initiated an interagency working group to execute a case-by-case review of all individuals currently in removal proceedings to ensure that they constitute our highest priorities,' wrote Ms Napolitano.
New cases placed in removal proceedings will get similar treatment, she said.
A joint Homeland Security/DOJ working group will develop specific criteria and a process for identifying low-priority removal cases that call for prosecutorial discretion.
Homeland Security will begin reviewing all 300,000 backlogged deportation cases, according to Mr Durbin's office.
'Young people should not be punished for their parents' mistakes.' Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, chief sponsor of the DREAM Act
Attorneys for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will individually review every case scheduled for a hearing in the next few months.
Identified cases will be closed 'except in extraordinary circumstances,' which will require approval to proceed.
Individuals whose cases are closed will be eligible to apply for immigration benefits such as work authorization.
Mr Durbin and others had written the President several letters this year on the Administration's enforcement policies.
Mr Durbin, chief sponsor of the recently introduced 2011 Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, praised the Administration's move on Thursday in a statement which said if fully implemented, 'the new process should stop virtually all DREAM Act deportations.'