Dean Johnson Comments on Immigration Policy for Sacramento Bee
Dean Kevin R. Johnson commented for the Sacramento Bee on the story of two local teens who are among the first to benefit from President Obama's recent changes in the United States immigration enforcement policy.
The president announced in June that undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before the age of 16, have been in the country for at least five years, are non-felons, and are currently enrolled in school or have graduated from high school may apply for deferred action status, making it easier for them to get the identification necessary to get a job. Two local teens were recently informed that they would not be deported for at least two years as a result of the policy change.
"It's exciting stuff," said Dean Johnson. "It's very difficult to condemn children for violating the law when actually it was their parents."
Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.