US launches sweeping immigration reform

US immigration authorities said on Wednesday they have begun taking applications for deferred deportations from young undocumented immigrants, an initiative that could benefit up to 1.7 million people. A directive issued two months ago by President Barack Obama allows undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States if they were under the age of 16 when they arrived in the country. To be eligible, applicants also must be under 31 today, in school or have served in the US military, and have no criminal record. “Childhood arrivals who meet the guidelines and whose cases are deferred will now be able to live without fear of removal, and be able to more fully contribute their talents to our great nation,” said Alejandro Mayorkas, head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Most of the estimated 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States are from Latin America.