Dear Editor:
State Senator Stack’s letter to the editor in the August 4 edition – commending President Obama’s executive order granting employment authorization to undocumented individuals under 31 years old who came to the US prior to the age of 16 and have lived in the US for 5 years – completely misses the mark.
During President Obama’s announcement of the initiative, he made clear that the goal was to provide work authorization to these individuals so that they would not be limited to “unauthorized” or “under the table” job opportunities, like landscaping and manual labor. Instead, these bright youngsters who have grown up in the U.S. will be able to pursue legal employment like their peers. A requirement of this initiative is that the applicants are enrolled in school, have completed high school, have a GED or be a veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces. The hope is that those who have degrees and skills will be able to pursue their dreams. Happily immigration is a Federal issue.
Valarie McPherson