By Norma Montenegro Flynn
(Version en español abajo)
Nearly
one million young people have the opportunity to access temporary work
authorization and protection from deportation under the Deferred Action granted
on June 15, 2012, by President Barack Obama.
The
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) will allow talented young
people to fully participate in our society.
However, it is important to point out that this program will protect
them from deportation only temporarily.
The protection will last only for two years, and in order to continue,
another extension must be approved. In addition, this program applies only to
certain youth who must meet specific requirements such as having arrived to the
country before age 16, are currently in school or received at least a high
school diploma or equivalent, and do not pose a threat to national security or
public safety.
As
a guide to those who wish to submit their application, the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops’ Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs has posted on
its website www.justiceforimmigrants.org, the document: Q&A on DeferredAction for Childhood Arrivals, which provides answers to the most common
questions, such as the qualifications criteria, what does “significant
misdemeanor” means, and explains the application process.
It
is also important to remind those interested in applying that if they decide to
seek professional help to fill out their applications, they must rely on
legitimate professionals or organizations to avoid becoming victims of scams. The
information also provides links to social service organizations throughout the
country that provide assistance in the application process.
As
Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, chairman of USCCB’s Committee on Migration said, “The action by the
President is no substitute for enactment of the DREAM Act in Congress. We
encourage our elected officials of both parties to take this opportunity to
work together to enact this important law, which would give these youth a path
to citizenship and a chance to become Americans.”
It’s
important to allow these young men and women to build their own bright futures
away from the shadows.
1 comment:
The goal of the DREAM Act is to provide millions of immigrant children who graduate from high school the opportunity to receive a Green card. This would give them legal status to live and work in the U.S. without fear of being deported. Deferred Action
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