President Obama recently announced a program to defer the deportation of young illegal immigrants for two years. Undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S before they were 16 years old and are under the age of 30 at the time of their application are eligible for the program. If indeed granted the reprieve, they will be eligible to apply for work permits which in turn could land them the jobs they need to earn income.

Given the age guidelines listed in the new policy, undocumented college students are the ones bound to benefit the most. For some, it will give them the opportunity to continue their higher education ambitions. Also since undocumented students are uneligible to recieve financial aid, the work permit feature will allow them to get a temporary job to help defray the cost of tuition. Many see this new policy as a small step in the direction of possibly being granted full resident status.