Immigration reform news 2015: 55,000 Maryland immigrants qualified for Obama reprieve
Some 55,000 individuals from the state of Maryland are eligible to apply for the reprieve being planned by President Barack Obama's administration for millions of illegal immigrants in the United States.
This was according to estimates by a Washington-based nonprofit think tank, Migrant Policy Institute (MPI).
According to data collated by group, Maryland hosts the 13th biggest population of illegal immigrants qualified for the Obama administration's reprieve. The state of California, has the highest number of parents eligible for the anticipated new deferred action program, based on the groups' figures.
In a report published on its website, the MPI said as many as 3.7 million unauthorized immigrants, including those living in Maryland, could get a relief from deportation under the Obama administration's new deferred action program.
Under the Obama government's action program for unauthorized immigrants, parents of American citizens and legal permanent residents, more popularly known as "green card holders," are qualified to apply for relief from deportation and work authorization.
Applicants should also have lived in the United States for five years or more.
A report on The Baltimore Sun showed how local advocacy groups in Maryland have been preparing for the program.
The group CASA de Maryland, which helps Latino and immigrant people, for instance, have been conducting dozens of website in Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince Georgie's continues to orient and prepare residents for the new deferred action program.
It also seeks to help residents fill out applications for the program later this year.
"Right now, it's providing information to people. In May we will start providing workshops where we're going to be screening people against very specific criteria. … We'll be checking people's documents and sitting down with people one-on-one," George Escobar, director of health and human services for CASA, was quoted in The Baltimore Sun report as saying.