In the beginning of December, a federal judge ordered the federal government to fully reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The government had started this program back in 2012 but has since made efforts to repeal the program.
Now, with the new order from the judge, the program will be restarted in full. This will give thousands of “Dreamers” (people who were under 18 years old when they entered the country as undocumented immigrants) the chance to use the program as a path to citizenship.
What does this mean for the “Dreamers”?
Up until this judicial order, if you were a new applicant, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would turn you away. Only those who had already enrolled before the repeal of the program could continue the process of becoming citizens.
Now, the DACA program is once more accepting new applicants. If you have been uncertain as to whether DACA is open to you, now is the time for you to try to enroll in the program.
How do I enroll in DACA?
The best way to enroll in DACA is to complete USCIS Form I-821D. Make sure you have the most recent version of the form, since USCIS updates it regularly. If you want to request a work permit, you should also file USCIS Forms I-765 and I-765WS.
If you need help filling out or sending in the forms, an experienced immigration attorney can assist you in the process.
While the future of the DACA program is uncertain, the “Dreamers” can rest assured that, at least for the time being, the program has been fully restored and is accepting new applicants. If you have been waiting for an opportunity to benefit from this program, now is the time.