Mooers Immigration » DACA

Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA

Mooers Immigration — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 20:23:34 +0000

Washington (CNN)

By Ariane de Vogue, Devan Cole and Jamie Ehrlich, CNN
“— for now, participants in the [DACA] program can continue to renew membership in the program that offers them work authorization and temporary protection from deportation.”

Full Story

A Focus on Young Immigrants

Mooers Immigration — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:27:20 +0000

Yesterday’s Washington Post featured two interesting articles about young immigrants. The first explores the unexpected decrease in the number of DACA applications, a number that was originally expected to increase with President Obama’s victory. The second article discusses a new version of the Dream Act introduced by Republican Senators John McCain, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Jon Kyl.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/among-young-immigrants-applications-for-deportation-relief-have-slowed/2012/11/27/fdd2e7e6-3425-11e2-bfd5-e202b6d7b501_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senators-introduce-gop-alternative-to-immigration-dream-act/2012/11/27/34428b0a-38b4-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html

New DACA Numbers

Mooers Immigration — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:22:24 +0000

On Friday, October 12, The Department of Homeland Security released updated information regarding Deferred Action approvals. According to DHS, 4,591 applications have been approved, and almost 180,000 people have applied. So far there have been no official denials, but more than 1,800 applicants have received either a Notice of Intent to Deny or a Request For Evidence.

DACA Statistics

Mooers Immigration — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:10:58 +0000

As of September 14, more than 80,000 DACA requests had been accepted for processing. Of those requests, more than 46,000 came from individuals born in Mexico. What other countries have been well-represented in the pool of DACA applicants? The top 15 countries that have seen large numbers of their native-born population apply for Deferred Action are:

Mexico
El Salvador
South Korea
Honduras
Guatemala
Peru
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Philippines
India
Korea
Argentina
Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago

Many Hesitant to Apply for Deferred Action

Mooers Immigration — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:50:18 +0000

The Department of Homeland Security announced last week that a small group of Deferred Action applications has been approved. Since the application process became available on August 15, approximately 72,000 applications have been submitted, a much smaller number than anticipated. With free clinics and workshops offering legal advice and application assistance, why have so few of the more than 1.7 million eligible applicants actually applied? While there are a number of potential reasons for the low application numbers, there seem to be two main issues causing potential DACA applicants to delay their applications:

1. The upcoming election

Should Mitt Romney become our next president, he has suggested that he will reverse the Deferred Action initiative. Uncertainty over what will then happen to the beneficiaries of Deferred Action, their families, and individuals who have submitted applications has deterred a number of potential applicants from applying.

2. Fear of divulging information

In applying for Deferred Action, individuals must provide information to the US Government, including personal information, information about their families, and any and all Social Security Numbers and identities used during their time in the US. Failing to provide this information or lying about it on application forms is considered fraud. USCIS has promised not to turn individuals over to ICE unless they pose a threat to national security, but they have yet to answer other questions, such as what will happen to individuals who admit to using fake identities or Social Security numbers.

With many questions still unanswered and many rules still undefined, many are hesitant to take advantage of Deferred Action. For those who are concerned, it may be advisable to wait to submit an application until USCIS has provided further clarification on the initiative’s grey areas.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Mooers Immigration — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:20:24 +0000

We will be posting more details about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the coming days. In the meantime, be sure to monitor the USCIS website for the latest DACA news and updates.

Programa de Acción Diferida

Mooers Immigration — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:30:28 +0000

Actualización sobre . . .

Programa de Acción Diferida

19 de Junio del 2012

Mooers Immigration ha recibido muchas consultas acerca del anuncio del Presidente Obama hecho el 15 de Junio del 2012 para aplicar determinadas disposiciones de la ley DREAM a través de decisiones administrativas. La gran cantidad de interés en esta iniciativa significa que las comunidades inmigrantes en nuestra región y en tódo el pais entienden que la acción del Presidente podría ser la respuesta (por lo menos una respuesta parcial) a sus oraciones, desafortunadamente también significa que notarios, asesores de inmigración y otros proveedores de fraude de inmigración ya estan pensando en aprovecharse de inmigrantes inocentes.

Para poner a tódos al día sobre la situación de este nuevo programa llamado “Acción Diferida”, Mooers Immigration esta proporcionando esta actualización. Nuestro plan es proporcionar futuras actualizaciones a medida que aprendemos más sobre el programa del Presidente. Por favor, no dude en compartir esto con las familias, individuos, empresas, escuelas y organizaciones que se verán impactadas por este programa.

Esto es lo que sabemos:

Acción Diferida dará a los individuos que califican varios beneficios. Ellos podrán trabajar, obtener un Número de Seguro Social y sabrán que estarán libres de deportación por el tiempo que dure el programa. Las aprovaciones serán concedidas iniciando con un periodo de dos años, y serán renovables.

Sin embargo, esto NO es actualmente una ruta de acceso a la Residencia o a la Ciudadanía . Este beneficio TAMPOCO SE EXTENDERA a los miembros de la familia. Cada uno debe calificar por sí mismo.

Estos son los Requerimientos de Elegibilidad Para la Acción Diferida anunciados por USCIS y ICE:

Arribo a Estados Unidos antes de cumplir 16 años;
Residencia contínua en Estados Unidos por lo menos 5 años ANTES del 15 de Junio del 2012;
Estaba presente en Estados Unidos el 15 de Junio del 2012;
O:
- Está actualmente en la escuela,
- Está graduado de high school,
- Ha obtenido el GED, o
- Fué dados de alta con honores de las Fuerzas Armadas o la Guardia Costera
Que no haya sido condenado por:
- Delito Mayor,
- “Delito Menor Significativo” offensa,
- Tres delitos menores, o
- “Si no representan una amenaza para la seguridad Nacional o Seguridad Política”
Estar entre los 15 y los 30 años de edad.

Tenga en cuenta que las reglas NO hacen diferencia entre aquellos que se les ha vencido su visa, entrado al pais sin autorización, o quienes están aquí de forma legal en un estatus que no les permite trabajar.

Actividades que se esperan en las próximas semanas:

a) Anuncio de USCIS de como estarán manejando la Acción Diferida;

b) Publicación de las formas requeridas (actualmente no hay una forma formal para este beneficio), costos y otros detalles importantes;

c) Potencial acción de la corte por parte de los enemigos de los inmigrantes para bloquear la Administración de Obama y evitar que siga adelante con su Programa de Acción Diferida;

d) USCIS está bajo las órdenes del Presidente para iniciar implementando el programa el 15 de Agosto del 2012.

Aquí está nuestra comprensión actual de como trabajará el programa:

1) El proceso requerirá a cada aplicante que demuestre que cumple con cada uno de los requerimientos de elegibilidad. El gobierno no otorgará la Acción Diferida sin que el solicitante aporte pruebas acerca de cada criterio.

2) Para los que están familiarizados con el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS), El Programa de Acción Diferida puede ser similar.

3) El director de la USCIS indicó en una conferencia telefónica el Lunes que podría no haber fecha de finalización para el periodo de inscripción de la Acción Diferida. Es probable que ésto pueda significar que muchos de los que actualmente no califican puedan calificar en un futuro, incluyendo:

Los que por algún motivo dejáron la escuela (antes conocidos como “drop-outs”): Pueden regresar a ella para conseguir un GED o el diploma de High School para tener elegibilidad.

Niños menores de 15 años de edad: Una vez que cumplan los 15, deberán poder aplicar.

4) La definición de “Delito Menor Significativo” es muy amplio. Esto es importante porque una sola ofensa o delito hace al individuo inelegible para la Acción Diferida. Delito Menor Significativo incluye: Manejar bajo la influencia; “Violencia, Amenazas o Asalto,” incluyendo violencia doméstica; obstrucción de la justicia, soborno, fuga illegal de la detención, el enjuiciamiento o la escena de un accidente, posesión illegal de un arma de fuego, la distribución de drogas, el tráfico o la posesión de las mismas.

5) El potencial impacto indirecto negativo sobre los miembros de familia que no reunen los requisitos para la Acción Diferida sigue en espera de una aclaración adicional.

Los directores de ICE y USCIS dicen que utilizarán el 2011 Prosecutorial Discretion guidelines (bajo el cual el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos dirige supuestamente sus esfuerzos contra aquéllos que representan amenazas criminals o de seguridad) para perseguir a los que actualmente se encuentran en el pais sin autorización.

Sin embargo, no han habido garantias generals con respecto a la seguridad de los miembros de la familia no elegibles para la deportación.

La Administración claramente quiere limitar la Acción Diferida a solo a los jóvenes que:

Tienen, o pronto tendrán, por lo menos un diploma de high school o GED;

No han tenido problemas con la ley;

No son ni has sido en el pasado miembros de pandillas u organizaciones similares;

Se han aclimatado a la vida en los Estados Unidos; y

Llegaron a los Estados Unidos a una edad temprana.

Por favor háganos saber si tiene alguna pregunta o comentario acerca del Programa de Acción Diferida. Anticipamos con placer proporcional actualizaciones adicionales en las semanas y meses venideros.

Dream Act Update

Mooers Immigration — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:28:42 +0000

Update on . . .

Deferred Action Program

June 19, 2012

Mooers Immigration has received many inquiries regarding President Obama’s June 15, 2012 announcement to implement certain provisions of the DREAM Act through administrative determinations. The large amount of interest in this initiative means that immigrant communities in our region and across the country understand that the President’s action could be the answer (at least a partial answer) to their prayers. Unfortunately, it also means that notarios, immigration consultants and other purveyors of immigration fraud are already preying on unsuspecting immigrants.

To bring everyone up to date on the status of this new program, called “Deferred Action”, Mooers Immigration is providing this update. Our plan is to provide future updates as we learn more about the President’s program. Please feel free to share this with families, individuals, businesses, schools and organizations that will be impacted by this program.

Here is what we know:

Deferred Action will give qualifying individuals several benefits. They will be able to work, obtain a Social Security Number and know that they will be free from deportation for the length of the program. Approvals will be granted for an initial 2-year period, and will be renewable.

However, this is NOT currently a path to a Green Card or to Citizenship. This benefit will also NOT EXTEND to family members. Everyone must qualify on his or her own.

Here are the Eligibility Requirements for Deferred Action as announced by USCIS and ICE:

Arrived in US before 16^th birthday;
Resided continuously in US for at least 5 years BEFORE June 15, 2012;
Was present in the US on June 15, 2012;
Either:
- Currently in school,
- Graduated from high school,
- Have obtained a GED, or
- Are honorable discharged from Armed Forces or Coast Guard
Has not been convicted of:
- Felony,
- “Significant misdemeanor” offense,
- Three misdemeanor offenses, or
- “Otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety”
Be between 15 and 30 years of age.

Notice that the rules DO NOT make a difference between those who overstayed their visas, entered the country without authorization, or who are currently here legally in a status that does not allow them to work.

Expected activities in the coming weeks:

a) Announcement by USCIS regarding how it will handle Deferred Action;

b) Publication of the required forms (there is currently no formal form for this benefit), filing fees and other important details;

c) Potential court action by immigrant foes to block the Obama Administration from pursuing its Deferred Action program;

d) USCIS is under orders from the President to begin implementing the program by August 15, 2012.

Here is our current understanding of how the program will work:

1) The process will require each applicant to prove that he or she meets each of the eligibility requirements. The Government will not grant Deferred Action without the applicant providing evidence about each criterion.

2) For those familiar with the Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the Deferred Action program may have a similar feel.

3) The USCIS Director indicated in a conference call on Monday that there may be no end date to the sign-up period for Deferred Action. This may likely mean that many of those who do not currently qualify may be able to qualify in the future, including:

High School early leavers (formerly known as “drop-outs”): They can return to school to pursue a GED or High School diploma to gain eligibility.
Children under 15 years of age: Once they turn 15 they should be able apply.

4) The definition of “Significant Misdemeanor” is very broad. This is important because a single offense makes an individual ineligible for Deferred Action. Significant Misdemeanor includes: Driving Under the Influence; “violence, threats, or assault,” including domestic violence; obstruction of justice or bribery; unlawful flight from arrest, prosecution or the scene of an accident; unlawful possession of a firearm; drug distribution, trafficking, or possession.

5) The potential for indirect adverse impact on family members who do not qualify for Deferred Action still awaits additional clarification.

The ICE and USCIS directors claim that they will use the 2011 Prosecutorial Discretion guidelines (under which the US Government is supposed to be directing its immigration enforcement efforts at those who pose criminal or security threats) to pursue those currently in the country without authorization.
However, there have been no blanket assurances regarding the safety of ineligible family members from deportation.

The Administration clearly wants to limit Deferred Action to only those young people who:

Have, or will soon have, at least a high school degree or GED;
Have not gotten into trouble with the law;
Are not current or past members of gangs or similar organizations;
Have become acclimated to life in the US; and
Arrived in the US at a young age.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments about Deferred Action. We look forwarding to providing additional updates in the coming weeks and months.