Joy, skepticism at immigration policy move
By Mariano Castillo, CNN
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(CNN) - Jose Luis Zelaya shed tears of joy Friday morning.
"It's just insane," the graduate student at Texas A&M University said. "I've been working on this for six years. It is just overwhelming."
Zelaya was electrified by news that the Obama administration will stop deporting illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children if they meet certain requirements.
Zelaya came to the United States illegally from Honduras at age 14 to find his mother, who was already in the country, he said.
Without the change announced Friday, he couldn't get a job to help pay for school; Zelaya, 25, is pursuing a master's degree in education with hopes of earning a doctorate and teaching middle school. He also wouldn't be able to consider job offers that presented themselves afterward. The uncertainty over what loomed after graduation spooked him.
"Now, maybe I will be able to work without being afraid that someone may deport me," he said. "There is no fear anymore."
Immigration shift sparks reaction from both sides
News of the change raced across the country, buoying the spirits of immigrants and immigrant advocates who have campaigned for such a change for more than 10 years.
Obama administration to stop deporting some young illegal immigrants
Tune to "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" at 4 p.m. ET on CNN for Blitzer's interview with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
By Tom Cohen, CNN
Washington (CNN) - In an election-year policy change, the Obama administration said Friday it will stop deporting young illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children if they meet certain requirements.
The shift on the politically volatile issue of immigration policy prompted immediate praise from Latino leaders who have criticized Congress and the White House for inaction, while Republicans reacted with outrage that the move amounts to amnesty - a negative buzz word among conservatives.
Pentagon to hold its first Gay Pride event
By Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon Producer
Washington (CNN) - The Department of Defense announced Thursday that it will be commemorating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride later this month. The event will be the first of its kind for the Pentagon.
"The Defense Department is planning an LGBT Pride Month event for later this month," Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Laniez said in a statement issued Thursday.
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Overheard of CNN.com: Decision to defer some deportations symbolic
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
Immigration is always a hot-button issue, and can even be a vote-changing one, because it gets to the heart of who we believe we are as Americans and as people. For many readers at CNN.com, the Obama administration's announcement that it will give a two-year deferral from deportation to some young immigrants who came to the United States as children - if they meet certain requirements - is symbolic of society's attitude toward immigration in general.
Obama administration to stop deporting some young illegal immigrants
Quite a few commenters were dismayed, because they have been hoping for politicians to take a hard stance against illegal immigration.
Some readers were happy because they were afraid someone they knew would be deported.
Does illegal immigration hurt the United States, and how? Readers don't agree.
Was the decision about political posturing to win over certain groups? FULL POST
Filed under: Comments • Immigration • What we think