On January 19, the United States Supreme Court announced that it will review a case that challenges the legality of President Obama’s executive actions granting semi-legal status and work authorization to potentially five million undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children or who are the parents of U.S. citizens. The nation’s highest court will review a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court that has blocked the implementation of President Obama’s 2014 deferred action initiatives – DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) and an expansion of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The Court’s ruling is expected by the end of June.
If the Supreme Court upholds the President’s executive actions, qualifying immigrants would be allowed to work in the United States and temporarily shielded from deportation actions. The deferred action programs offer no path to citizenship and no green cards, and undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes in the United States would not be eligible for deferred action. For now, none of the activity in the courts affects the existing, original DACA program. Immigrants may still request an initial grant or a renewal of DACA according to the regulations implemented in 2012. Anyone who needs to apply for or renew DACA status should contact our experienced Las Vegas immigration attorneys at once.
According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), the DAPA program could create more than 20,000 new jobs each year over the next ten years. DAPA could also increase the GDP by $164 billion over the next decade and add $88 billion to the personal incomes of working Americans. Millions of immigrants are now awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming decision. If you are a DACA-qualified or DAPA-qualified immigrant – or if you’re not sure – or if you are a U.S.-based employer who hires immigrants to work in the United States, let an experienced Las Vegas immigration lawyer provide the immigration-related legal advice and services you need, and do not wait to make the call.
