New Laws May Permit Immigrant Children to Stay in the U.S.

The requirements for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program were expanded last year by President Obama to ensure that more children who had immigrated to the United States might avoid deportation. Along with an expanded DACA program, President Obama also announced that many undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and lawful residents may also be able to receive work permits and avoid deportation under the new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program.

Between DACA and DAPA, it’s estimated that 4.4 million people will be able to receive the help necessary in order for them to lawfully stay in the United States. It is expected that millions of people will be applying for aid offered by these programs, but it’s also safe to say that not everyone will qualify.

Deferred action, which is a temporary relief from the threat of deportation, is always given on a case by case basis. So, it is your best interest to make your case as strong as possible. In order to qualify for DACA, you need proof that shows the following:

• You came to the U.S. before you were 16 years of age.
• You have lived here continuously since 2010, and were physically present here on November 20, 2014 and every single day since.
• You do not have a lawful immigration status.
• You are enrolled in an American school, have obtained a GED, or graduated from an American high school on the date that you or your parents have submitted your application for DACA.
• You can pass a background check.
• You have not been convicted of certain criminal offenses.

Granted, some of these things may be difficult to prove, and it will take a lot of work to put together a case that shows that you don’t deserve to be deported. You simply cannot take chances with immigration. Therefore, it makes sense to hire an experienced immigration attorney to help you with your case.

If you or a family member wants to qualify for DACA, or if you have any questions about immigration law in New Jersey, contact Michael Noriega at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC today. Mr. Noriega, who speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese, is a skilled immigration lawyer who will work tirelessly to help keep you in the states and protect your rights.