DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a policy implemented by the Obama Administration in 2012. The policy allows certain individuals who were brought to the United States illegally as children to receive a two-year renewable period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.
To be eligible for DACA, you must meet the following requirements:
Have arrived in the United States before the age of 16;
Have continuously lived in the country for at least five years;
Be currently in school, graduated from high school, or have been honorably discharged from the military;
You also cannot have a criminal record.
DACA has provided relief for over 700,000 individuals, known as Dreamers, allowing them to continue their education and work without fear of deportation.
However, the future of DACA has been uncertain since the Trump Administration announced in 2017 that it would be ending the program. The Biden Administration has expressed support for DACA and has taken steps to preserve and protect the program. However, the future of DACA is in the hands of the court at this moment.
At this time, current grants of DACA and related Employment Authorization Documents are valid, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept and process renewal DACA requests and accompanying requests for employment authorization under the final rule. USCIS will continue to accept and process applications for advance parole for current DACA recipients and will continue to accept but not process initial DACA requests.
If you are a DACA recipient and need to renew your status or employment authorization contact us today.
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