After the Trump Administration announced the cancellation of the DACA program, many young people have wondered what their future holds. The DACA program, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, has permitted certain immigrant children who came to the United States when they were young to remain in the country. This program was created under the Obama Administration and was first implemented in 2012. The goal was to allow immigrant children the educational advantages of U.S. citizens since they were deemed too young to be held responsible for the acts of their elders.
Under the program, children were granted permission to remain in the U.S. for a period of 2 years. After which, the child’s status could be reevaluated and continued. Young recipients of the DACA program were also able to retain work permits.
President Trump has clarified that the DACA rescission will make more jobs available to U.S. citizens, however, countless experts have disagreed. Regardless, those who are currently under the protection of DACA need to be prepared for how this change may affect their status in the United States.
Current DACA recipients: If you are currently a recipient of the DACA program, the rules of DACA will continue to apply to you. However, expired DACA recipients, or “dreamers,” may be ineligible.
Expired DACA: If your DACA is about to expire, you must have a pending renewal with the USCIS already established in order to legally remain in the United States. DACAs set to expire on or before March 5, 2017, must have applied for a renewal before October 5, 2017, in order to qualify.
DACA applicants: All DACA applications received by September 5, 2017, at the USCIS will still be processed by the department, but are not guaranteed. No new applications will be accepted, and anything submitted after the specified deadline will be discounted.
DACA travelers: Anyone protected under DACA who plans to travel outside the U.S. may continue to do so. However, the traveler must return to the United States prior to the expiration of his or her DACA.
These are unsteady times for DACA recipients, and our immigration lawyers are here to help. Our firm can review your current situation, visa status, pending DACA application, work permit, and other relevant documents. We can help you establish a new plan in order to give you the best chance possible of reaching your goals within the United States.
Contact Guerra Sáenz, PL to discuss your case with our Coral Springs immigration attorneys.