Immigrants attend Phoenix 'deferred action' forum
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President Obama's immigration policy change does not grant legal status to illegal immigrants but does defer deportation for young people who qualify
Web Producer: Taylor Avey
PHOENIX (AP) - Hundreds of young illegal immigrants flocked to an application drive for a new federal program that would allow them to stay in the country legally.
A line of immigrants snaked around the Central High School in Phoenix on Saturday as they waited to apply for President Barack Obama's new "deferred action" program.
Volunteer lawyers gave advice on how to complete the complicated applications. An organizer tells the Arizona Republic that 1,500 applications were given out and 500 people received consultations.
The program lets applicants under age 31 who came to the U.S. before age 16 live and work here for two years without fear of deportation if they have no criminal record.
Arizona Dream Act Coalition president Dulce Matuz says young immigrants are craving reliable information about the program.
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