On June 15, 2012, the Obama Administration announced that it would offer many DREAM Act-eligible youths protection from deportation. These youths, whether or not they are currently in deportation proceedings, will be able to apply for “deferred action,” which would temporarily shield them from deportation and enable to live and work legally in the US.
Requirements
The announcement sets forth five criteria that youths must meet to get deferred action:
- They must have come to the US before they turned 16;
- They must have not yet turned 30 when they apply;
- They must have continuously resided in the US since June 15, 2007, and must have been present in the US on June 15, 2012;
- They must currently be in school, have received a high school diploma or GED, or been honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces or the Coast Guard;
- They must not have been convicted of a felony, a “significant misdemeanor,” multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety. Anyone applying for deferred action would need to go through a criminal background check.
What deferred action involves
Deferred action is a form of protection that lasts two years. Anyone who gets deferred action would be able to get it renewed, but she would need to reapply near the end of the two years and have her case reviewed again. Someone who gets deferred action can apply for a work permit. DHS is also considering whether to allow travel outside the US. Deferred action does NOT put someone on track to get a green card or US citizenship.
To read more about this process will work, as well as the next steps we need to take in our fight for fair immigration laws, visit this link at Idaho Community Action Network.