The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is accepting DACA applications once again. On December 7, 2020, a federal district judge ordered the Trump administration to fully reinstate DACA applications. DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. A Deferred Action is the delay of carrying out a deportation order or putting someone in removal proceedings. This program allowed nearly 700,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children to live and work there. Each DACA application is discretionary and determined on a case by case basis.
A U.S. District Court Judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume the approval of new DACA applications and work permits. The Trump administration suspended new applications and work permits until this order. The Court ordered DHS to return to its prior practice of granting and extending DACA status for two years at a time. Not only is USCIS is accepting DACA applications, they are accepting DACA renewals and advanced parole applications. Equally important, the Court restored DACA renewals from one year to two years. They also restored work permits for DACA applicants from one year to two years.
The future of DACA still remains uncertain for the time being. Currently, DACA holders must renew their application every two years indefinitely. Those with SACA status have hopes that the DACA program will evolve to one that includes a path to U.S. Citizenship. If you believe that you qualify for DACA we recommend that you submit your application now.
