Young illegal immigrants apply to stay in the U.S.

The Obama administration kicks off one of the most sweeping changes in immigration policy in decades Wednesday, allowing an estimated 1.7 million young undocumented immigrants to apply for the temporary right to live and work openly in the United States without fear of deportation.

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Aug. 15, 2012

Scores of people line up early at the Casa de Maryland offices in Langley Park, hoping to get in an application for deferred deportation status.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Aug. 15, 2012

Dennis Torrico, 17, waits in line outside the Casa de Maryland offices. He came to the United States from Argentina with his parents when he was 5 and now goes to Falls Church High School. "I'm keeping my hopes up (regarding gaining citizenship), but I'm afraid to think too far ahead," Torrico said.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Aug. 15, 2012

People hoping to get deferred deportation status line up at the Casa de Maryland offices. The program, hewing closely to the goals of the long-debated Dream Act, targets those who were brought here as children. It is open to immigrants ages 15 to 31 who arrived before they were 16 and have lived here continuously for the past five years or more.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Aug. 15, 2012

Herbert Marquez, 26, and his wife, Mirna Villalta, 24, wait in line outside the Casa de Maryland offices. Marquez came to the United States from Guatemala when he was 16. Villalta, an El Salvadoran, came to the United States when she was 15.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Aug. 15, 2012

Maria Reyes, 17, holds her mother, Leslie Castillo. Reyes came to the United States with her family when she was 5. They are originally from Guatemala.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Aug. 15, 2012

While parents and siblings wait in line outside the Casa de Maryland offices, a group of kids play around on an electrical box. Most had been waiting for several hours.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Aug. 14, 2012

Hundreds of immigrants wait outside the Mexican Consulate in Houston. Illegal immigrants are scrambling to get passports and other records that are needed to get temporary legal residency and work permits.

Nick de la Torre / AP

Aug. 14, 2012

In addition to country of origin, immigrants must have school records, utility bills and other documents that show they have lived here continuously for at least the past five years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided a list of other documents it will accept as proof of continuous residency, including tax receipts, bank records and church confirmation and other religious records.

Nick de la Torre / AP

Aug. 14, 2012

Hayley Arana, 2, stands with her mother, Cynthia Diaz, and hundreds of others outside the Mexican Consulate in Houston. Although her daughter was born in the United States and cannot be deported, Diaz must get temporary residency to remain in the country legally.

Nick de la Torre / AP

Aug. 14, 2012

Claudia Hernandez, front, talks about Mexican Consulate personnel being rude to the people in line and the trouble of waiting without a system. Hernandez says she got into line at 8:30 a.m. but was forced back by people cutting in line. Hernandez, who has been in the U.S. for 20 years and has children who were born in here, says she will spend the night to get a better place tomorrow.

Nick de la Torre / AP

Aug. 14, 2012

People fill out paperwork inside the Embassy of Honduras Consular Section in Washington. Among other restrictions, applicants to the program must be free of serious criminal convictions, be enrolled in or have completed high school, or have served in the U.S. military. On Tuesday, officials confirmed that those enrolled in GED programs and certain training programs will also qualify, broadening the program’s potential reach.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Aug. 14, 2012

Luis Martinez, 20, from Philadelphia, right, walks in the hallway inside the consulate section of the Embassy of Honduras in Washington. If accepted into the program, applicants must seek renewal of their protected status every two years.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Aug. 14, 2012

Mayra Rivera, center, with her children, Aixa Martinez, 18, left, and Aryam Rivera, right, from Philadelphia, wait inside the consulate section of the Embassy of Honduras in Washington. Opponents and supporters alike agree that the two-year protections are likely to be renewed indefinitely, as has been the case with Haitian refugees and others who have gotten such status. While future administrations may stop granting the protections, they are unlikely to move to deport those already enrolled.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

July 26, 2012

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), left, is arrested in front of the White House after performing an act of civil disobedience at a rally in support of the Dream Act in Washington. The bill, which would grant conditional permanent residency to immigrants who entered the country illegally but otherwise are in good standing, has been stuck in Congress since it was introduced in 2001, frustrating its supporters.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

June 27, 2012

Karizma Valdez, 12, of Detroit demonstrates in support of the Dream Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Valdez was among 200 or so demonstrators who traveled from all over the nation to voice support for the act.

Daniel C. Britt / The Washington Post

June 25, 2012

A crowd of about 200 chant in support of the Dream Act at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington. Demonstrators traveled from all over the nation to voice support for the act, which protects undocumented immigrants without criminal records and under age 30, from deportation.

Daniel C. Britt / The Washington Post

June 15, 2012

Ricky Campos, 23, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador now living in Silver Spring demonstrates in front of the White House.

Daniel C. Britt / The Washington Post

June 15, 2012

Members of the group Casa de Maryland rally outside the White House in support of President Obama's announcement that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

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Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

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Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

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