DREAM Act Lite

[itzel 336]

I came upon this article and dont agree with the authors comments that with DACA, we have been granted amnesty, that is far from the truth and I have commented. Read it and share what you think, or even better if you disagree, comment on the article, thats what I did. Theres no need to hide in the shadows any more.

DREAM Act: Basics of what undocumented youth must do to not be deported

WASHINGTON, August 3 2012 — On June 15, President Obama — who did not call it that, but that is what it basically is — gave amnesty to the undocumented children of illegal immigrants. Some call it “DREAM Act Lite.” Whatever it is, it can be a lifeline to end the fear of deportation and the beginning towards one day becoming an American citizen.

Since Republicans in Congress have now prevented the original DREAM Act legislation from being passed, the President intervened with a directive to at least give these young people who were brought here, often as babes in the arms of their parents, a chance at staying here until the DREAM Act is finally the law of the land.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had 60 days to set up the application process after the President’s directive. That means in less than two weeks, Dreamers, as undocumented youth are often called, will be able to apply legally for a work permit and not be deported.

Here are the basics, including a USCIS hotline number to call:

1. Those individuals who are not in removal proceedings for deportation or those who are subject to a final order of removal will need to submit a request for a review of their cases and supporting evidence to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

2. But the federal agency has not yet crafted the procedures and no requests are being taken at this time. The application process should be in place by mid-August.

3. Those who have met the eligibility criteria (see below) can call the USCIS hotline at 1-800-375-5283 with questions or to request more information on the new process. The hotline offers assistance in both English and Spanish.

4. Information is also available at the government’s website: www.uscis.gov

Are You Eligible to Apply?

Basically, the government will be using its discretion not to pursue those:

* who arrived in this country before turning 16;

* have no felony record;

* have resided here continuously for at least five years;

* are currently in school;

* have graduated from high school or obtained an equivalency diploma;

* or are honorably discharged veterans.

But they cannot have turned 30 at the time of their application.

Those young people who are found eligible for the process can get what amounts to a two-year deferment from any prosecution for living in this country illegally. It is a deferment that is infinitely renewable. They also will be given permission to work legally in the United States.

U.S. officials will then keep their records on file and any call from state or local police checking to see if someone is here illegally will be told that person cannot be held by law enforcement.

The Pew Research Center says that President Obama’s order could affect up to 1.4 million children and young adults, including young people who are 18 to 30 years old, having arrived in the U.S. as kids and are in high school or have graduated. There are currently another 700,000 children younger than 18 still in school with 150,000 of them in high school.

On the day that the President announced his directive for “DREAM Act Lite,” he said, “This is not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people. It is the right thing to do.''

Source: Author

Catherine Poe

Source: link:http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ad-lib/2012/aug/3/DREAM-Act-basics-undocumented-youth-not-deported/