Individuals admitted to the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) face increased risk of detention and removal. A recent ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) exposes a potential weakness in DACA protections. Additionally, many DACA beneficiaries risk losing their employment due to federal delays in immigration processing.
The DACA Program, created in 2012, grants individuals that entered the country as undocumented children before 2007. Currently, the program applies to half a million people. The government’s spent significant effort in rolling back the program’s protections over the course of the past year. The recent BIA ruling states DACA status alone does protect individuals from detainment and removal. Along with the increased wait times for employment verification renewal, DACA beneficiaries face increased risk of losing the protections given by their status. DACA recipients that lose their status must seek alternate legal pathways immediately. Options for removal protection include family-based visas and applying for asylum.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, please contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws and policy updates. In an ever-evolving immigration landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.