If you or a family member could benefit from the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or President Obama’s pending new program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA), it is a good time to start preparing. While the programs have been on hold since late 2014, they could go into effect later this year and may hinge on the Supreme Court’s decision on Texas v. United States in June.
How to Prepare
Immigrants who came to the country as children and have not applied for DACA should consider doing it now. If you already have DACA status and you’ve received a renewal notice, make sure to renew on time.
- To find out if you or your child qualifies for DACA, work with a local nonprofit or an experienced immigration attorney.
- You will be required to prove that you have been in the United States continuously since you entered the country. Begin gathering paperwork to support this.
- If you have had contact with the police, talk to an attorney about your record and options.
While 26 states are challenging President Obama’s executive actions on immigration reform, many legal experts and law professors believe the President was within his power. And many states, organizations and individuals, including Mark Zuckerberg, have filed briefs and made statements in support of Obama’s actions.