The Obama administration announced Friday that younger illegal immigrants who have led law-abiding lives will no longer be deported, but instead be given work permits. President Obama emphasized the new policy is not amnesty, immunity or a means to citizenship, but temporary "stopgap" measure that brings some relief to youth who can contribute their skills and talents to the nation.

Under the new policy, illegal immigrants will avoid deportation and be eligible for work permits if they arrived in the United States before the age of 16, are younger than 30-years-old, lived in the country for at least five years, have no criminal history, and have graduated from high school, earned a GED or served in the military.