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President Obama Takes Action on Immigration PDF Print
Tuesday, 19 June 2012 16:10

"President Obama is keeping his promise to America to not only support needed immigration reform in word, but in deed. He is removing the barriers preventing young people in our communities - who share the same hopes and aspirations as every other American youth - to put their education to work for the country they love and call home." -- Congressman Xavier Becerra

President Obama Takes Action on Immigration

On June 15, President Barack Obama announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own as young children and meet several key criteria will be considered for relief from removal from the country or not entered into removal proceedings. 

As of August 15, 2012, USCIS will immediately begin accepting requests for consideration of deferred action for eligible youth.

Individuals who believe they are eligible should be aware of immigration scams. Unauthorized practitioners of immigration law may try to take advantage of you by charging excessive fees to submit forms to USCIS on your behalf.

Visit www.uscis.gov/avoidscams for tips on filing forms, reporting scams and finding accredited legal services. An informational brochure and flyer are also available on www.uscis.gov.

Informacion sobre Accion Diferida en español

WHAT IS DEFERRED ACTION?

Here are the basics:

  • Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion.
  • Deferred action does not confer lawful status upon an individual. The use of prosecutorial discretion confers no substantive right or pathway to citizenship. 
  • Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. Individuals who receive deferred action may apply for and may obtain employment authorization from the US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided they can demonstrate an economic necessity for their employment.
  • Individuals can call USCIS’ hotline at 1-800-375-5283 during business hours with questions or to request more information on the process. 
  • If you know someone who has been detained and they may qualify for relief, please call ICE’s hotline at 1-888-351-4024.

     

WHO QUALIFIES?

To be eligible for deferred action, individuals must:

  • Have come to the United States under the age of sixteen;
  • Have continuously resided in the United States for at least five years preceding June 15, 2012 and are present in the United States on June 15, 2012;
  • Currently be in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;
  • Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety;
  • Have entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or have had their lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012.
  • Have been under the age of thirty-one as of June 15, 2012.

    

HOW DO I APPLY?

Application Process and Forms

  • If you fail to submit a completed Form I-765 (along with the accompanying filing fees for that form, totaling $465), USCIS will not consider your request for deferred action.

      

Beware the Immigration Scam Artists & Notarios 

To help avoid immigration scams the USCIS launched the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law (UPIL) Initiative, providing the following online educational resources: 

 

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