Critics: Criminals allowed to stay.
Immigrants this week will begin applying to stay in the country under President Barack Obama's 'deferred action' policy. But is the administration ready?
Homeland Security officials expect more than one million people to apply for the government's leniency once the window for applications opens Wednesday, but roughly 1,200 already have received approval because their cases were under review by prosecutors.
Curtis Collier at U.S. Border Watch says this is the confusing loophole that allows some criminals to stay in our country.
"I'm not real sure this wasn't the whole design of it all, to cause so much chaos that people wouldn't have any idea what to do or would be scared to do too much because of the possibility of lawsuits if they mishandle the policy," says Collier.
Congressman Henry Cuellar is more optimistic about the president's program, believing all the bugs will be worked out.
"Can we stop anybody from making that request? No. We can't stop them or their attorneys from making that request, but I assume if they've already been ordered out of the country, that judge's order comes first," says the San Antonio Democrat.
Collier believes immigrants will do what they have to in order to stay in the country.
"We've seen this back in the 80s during the original amnesty under President Reagan, fake documents were being produced all over the country showing people had been here for years, and we expect it this time as well," he says.
Immigration officials point to this year's record number of deportations. Collier and others argue this is an election year, and the administration will say or do anything to remain in office.
