USCIS just announced that it will comply with an order from a U.S. District Court judge to restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to the way it was before. After four years of various attempts to undermine, cancel, or just refuse to implement the program, the program is fully restored at this point.
In practice, this means that those on DACA can remain on DACA. Those whose DACA will be expiring soon can apply for two-year renewals, as under the original program. And those who are not on DACA but are eligible can now file new applications, and those applications will be accepted and processed.
In addition, those who only got one-year renewals and one-year work permits will now have those extended to two years.
Specifically, USCIS announced it will be doing the following to restore DACA:
- Accepting first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) based on the terms of the original DACA policy;
- Accepting DACA renewal requests based on the terms of the original DACA policy;
- Accepting applications for advance parole documents based on the terms of the original DACA policy;
- Extending one-year grants of deferred action under DACA to two years; and
- Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years.
DACA is a program that has benefited many people, with the promise to benefit many more. In light of this development, as well as the prospect of a new presidential administration in the coming days that is promising to reinstate DACA, it is as good a time as any to avail yourself of DACA, which both protects you from deportation and grants you a work permit,
If you believe you are eligible for a new or renewal application for DACA, please contact our office for a free consultation. Salmon Haas Law has handled many DACA applications. We are equipped to answer any questions you may have and to assist you in your applications.
