On Friday, June 12, 2012 President Obama announced a program to allow certain DREAMers (those who came into the United States illegally as children) to remain in the United States and apply for renewable work permits.
Deferred Action is available to people who meet all of the following requirements:
- Came to the United States under the age of 16.
- Have continuously resided in the United States for a least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and are present in the United States on the date of this memorandum;
- Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;
- Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety;
- Are not above the age of thirty.
Note: You may be eligible for Deferred Action even if you are subject to a final order of removal.
This procedure to obtain prosecutorial discretion comes upon the heels of millions of DREAMers making their voices heard and we applaud their efforts! Democracy and the American way of life are predicated on the disenfranchised expressing their concerns.
Please contact our office for help with your application for Deferred Action. Immigration laws are complex and small mistakes can result in your application being denied. We will help you present all of your equities (education, community service, etc.) because there is no guarantee when applying for an immigration benefit such as this one.
Please follow this blog in the coming weeks in order to get updates about this new development.
Source: DHS, “Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process for Young People Who Are Low Enforcement Priorities”
