DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an immigration policy that protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. It is not a path to citizenship. It is, however, valid for two years and can be renewed at the end of that two-year period. Recipients are also eligible for employment authorization documents. DACA recipients are sometimes called Dreamers, after the Dream Act (which was not passed into law).

The Future of DACA

First put into place eight years ago, DACA’s future is now somewhat uncertain. President Trump revealed plans to phase out DACA in 2017, but that phaseout has been put on hold several times—once to give Congress time to pass legislation, other times when various courts have found it unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on this very issue sometime in 2020.

What does all this uncertainty mean for Dreamers? It’s hard to know for sure. Currently, USCIS is not accepting first-time DACA applications, but USCIS is accepting renewal applications from those who already have DACA. At Martinez Immigration Law PLLC, we file DACA renewal applications and employment authorization applications for our clients within the correct timeframe and with the correct documentation to make sure they maintain DACA and remain authorized to work. If you are a Dreamer and are uncertain about your future here in the U.S., contact us for a free consultation.