A new immigration policy called Deferred Action goes into effect today. The law will allow certain young people protection from deportation for two years and the ability to work legally in the United States. The new law does not allow undocumented young people to stay in the United States forever or allow them to become citizens.
To qualify for Deferred Action you must:
- Be between the ages of 15 and 31;
- Have entered the U.S. at least 5 years ago;
- Have entered the U.S. when you were younger than 16;
- Have graduated from high school, obtained a GED, or currently be in school,
or served in the U.S. military;
- Not have any felony convictions or serious misdemeanors
(Note: one DUI is considered a serious misdemeanor); and
- Have been present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012.
Deferred Action has been misrepresented in the media as a “path to citizenship” or “amnesty.” This is simply untrue. Deferred Action requires undocumented young people to turn themselves in to the federal government, pass a background check, and then the government will “defer action” on their deportation case for two years.
While Deferred Action is an exciting program for many young people that
want to work legally in the U.S. to support their families, it is certainly not
the DREAM Act. But, Deferred Action is a step in the right direction for undocumented young people.
If you think you may qualify for Deferred Action, please speak with an immigration attorney before beginning the process.
To qualify for Deferred Action you must:
- Be between the ages of 15 and 31;
- Have entered the U.S. at least 5 years ago;
- Have entered the U.S. when you were younger than 16;
- Have graduated from high school, obtained a GED, or currently be in school,
or served in the U.S. military;
- Not have any felony convictions or serious misdemeanors
(Note: one DUI is considered a serious misdemeanor); and
- Have been present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012.
Deferred Action has been misrepresented in the media as a “path to citizenship” or “amnesty.” This is simply untrue. Deferred Action requires undocumented young people to turn themselves in to the federal government, pass a background check, and then the government will “defer action” on their deportation case for two years.
While Deferred Action is an exciting program for many young people that
want to work legally in the U.S. to support their families, it is certainly not
the DREAM Act. But, Deferred Action is a step in the right direction for undocumented young people.
If you think you may qualify for Deferred Action, please speak with an immigration attorney before beginning the process.
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