Beginning today, undocumented immigrants under the age of 31 can apply for so-called "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals."
The program is designed to allow migrants to live and work in the U-S openly without fear of deportation.
State Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier says this will create a bureaucratic hurdle for Alabama law enforcement and businesses. Collier says since the policy change potentially could apply to anyone between 16 and 30 years of age, this new layer encompasses a substantial portion of the undocumented alien population.
Under the new program only people who have graduated from or are enrolled in high school and have no criminal records will be accepted. There's also a $465 fee to apply.