Deferred Action

According to the US Department of Homeland Security website, Janet Napolitano has brought forth the Deferred Action. This allows illegal immigrants of certain specifications to remain in the United States for work purposes, given they meet the requirements.

Press Release

6 March 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA

DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS: IN ACTION!

New Opportunity for Select Working Immigrants Born In America

Illegal immigrants that have come to and remained in America since they were children now have an opportunity to remain in the country for work purposes. There are very specific requirements that must be met in order to be considered for Deferred Action. Each person will be analyzed on a case by case basis to determine whether they will be allowed to stay for the allotted two year period before renewal is necessary.

Janet Napolitano, secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, announced that as of 15 June 2012, the Deferred Action plan will be in full effect. Illegal immigrants residing and working in the United States must file an application to be considered for the two year work permit. In order to obtain this, they must have come to the United States under the age of sixteen and are currently not older than thirty. The second requirement is being able to prove they have been in the United States continuously for five years as of 15 June 2012. Third, the immigrant must currently be in school, have graduated from high school, or obtained a general education certificate. The alternative to the school requirement is that they are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States. Lastly, and importantly, the applicant must not have been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, multiple misdemeanors, or pose a threat to the general public or national security.

If these requirements are met and can be proven, the applicant’s case will be carefully reviewed and analyzed. If it is determined that they are eligible to receive the permit to stay for working purposes, they can remain in the United States for two years. After this two year period ends, the applicant must reapply and their case will be reevaluated, with no guarantee of being allowed to stay. Deferred Action does not imply or grant citizenship or the pathway to citizenship. It is simply a permit to remain legally working in the United States as a non-citizen.

My name is Alexis Veloz and I am a student at California State University, Northridge. For my report writing class, I am researching the political issue of immigration and reporting my findings. I have gathered information using the US Department of Homeland Security website. To learn more about the Deferred Action, please visit www.dhs.gov.

I can be contacted through email at alexis.veloz.953@my.csun.edu. 

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