Immigration Update: Parents Of Us Citizens And Lawful Permanent Residents

On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

One initiative addressed in the executive actions is aimed at allowing parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to request deferred action and employment authorization for three years, provided they have lived in the United States continuously since January 1, 2010, and pass required background checks.

So you may ask, who qualifies for deferred action and employment authorization? The answer: An undocumented individual living in the United States who is the parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, who meets the following:

• The person has lived in the United States continuously since January 1, 2010;
• The person had, on November 20, 2014, a son or daughter who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; and
• The person is not an enforcement priority for removal from the United States (under the new policies for the apprehension, detention and removal of undocumented immigrants memo

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will consider each request for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) on a case-by-case basis. Enforcement priorities include (but are not limited to) national security and public safety threats.

According to USCIS, they will begin accepting requests for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents in min-to-late May 2015.

More information on this topic can be found at the USCIS website here

At the Law Office of Carlos L. Williams, we consult with clients regarding a wide variety of immigration issues in Tulsa and surrounding areas. If you require the assistance of an immigration lawyer in Tulsa, fill out the contact submission form to be contacted immediately for a consultation.