Illegal immigration program launches

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Many across the country lined up on Wednesday to take advantage of a new government program which allows illegal immigrants the opportunity to avoid deportation and get work permits.

Some people in our area are calling the program backdoor amnesty. Others are saying it’s a calculated political move by President Obama.

However, there are also many people that said they are going to benefit from the program.

Pete Riehm with a local Tea Party Organization said President Obama's actions are unconstitutional. By signing to executive order installing the program, Riehm said Obama bypassed congress.

"Why do we have a congress if the president can write whatever laws he wants?" said Riehm.

Under the President's Differed Action for Childhood Arrivals program , illegal immigrants under the age of 30 can gain an undetermined status for two years.

Immigration attorney Robert Ratliff said illegal immigrants are basically signing a contract with the government stating the government can’t deport them in that time.

"It gives you work authorization. If you are wanting to go to school or seek employment, it allows you to do that but that's about all it does," said Ratliff.

That is if you qualify, and there are stipulations. The application is thick, and it requires a lot of information.

One of the requirements is that you prove you were in the U.S. June 15 of this year, which is the day the program was announced.

"It’s a complicated process. It really is," said Ratliff.

Ratliff said he has already gotten hundreds of calls.

The Department of Homeland Security estimates more than one million immigrants will apply and of that close to 900,000 will be eligible.

"Most importantly, people that have been to high school, the last two years and was to move forward, want to go to college want to continue their education; those are the people that are going to see an immediate impact," said Ratliff.

Riehm said it may have a different impact.

"Voter fraud. Now you've got more people that are going to be able to stay in the country, and you've got suits and different people trying to make it easier for people to vote whether they are here legally or not," said Riehm.

Some people also speculate this is President Obama's way of winning the votes of the Hispanic population while at the same time generating more competition for American workers in an already scarce job market.

According to the program, if someone applying to the program makes a mistake on the application and sends it, the application is automatically denied and there are no appeals.

Also, citizenship cannot apply for through the program.

Ratliff said another fear is what happens when the program expires if it is not renewed.

“If it expires, these people may be in the same status they are in now except worse. The government knows where they are,” said Ratliff.

What do you think about the White House program that allows young illegal immigrants to avoid deportation?