If you want to incite a controversial political debate in Colorado or anywhere in the United States, all you have to do is bring up an immigration topic. You’ll likely find opinions that express a need for government reform, and you may encounter some who adamantly oppose rights for certain people, such as those with undocumented legal status. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is another hot topic in many debate forums.
As an immigrant, you may not find random opinions all that important to your personal experience. However, there may indeed be numerous legal issues that have a significant impact on your situation or that of a loved one. Take DACA, for instance. The president has made some changes regarding this program, which may affect yours or a family member’s legal status.
Eligibility requirements and regulation changes
In 2017, the president announced that DACA requests filed after September 5 of that year would face rejection. However, petitions for renewal would still be possible under certain guidelines. The following list shows several of the requirements you must fulfill to be an eligible DACA recipient:
- If you were 31 or older on June 15, 2012, you are ineligible.
- When you entered the United States, you must not yet have reached age 16.
- You must have lived in Colorado or another state since 2007.
- If you served in the U.S. military, your discharge must have been honorable.
- You also have to be a current high school student or possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- If you have a criminal record, it might impede your eligibility.
Nearly 900,000 undocumented immigrants have received renewals. If you have questions about an application that you or a loved one filed, you may want to talk to someone who has already processed an application or, better yet, someone well-versed in current U.S. immigration laws.
Other issues that affect the lives of many immigrants
When you’re dealing with an immigration issue, it can be quite stressful, especially if the situation places your legal status at risk or threatens your ability to stay in the United States.
The thought of deportation is frightening to many people, in particular those who have fled to the U.S. from war-torn countries or situations that placed their lives or their loved ones’ lives at risk. It is always best to try to remain calm and to learn as much as you can about any and all regulations that have bearing on the specific problem you are facing.