DACA Deadline Passes, Participants Face Uncertainty

Back in the fall of 2017, the Trump administration set the arbitrary deadline of March 5, 2018, as the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA provides work permits and at least a temporary protection from deportation for qualified individuals who entered the U.S. as children. Although federal court injunctions are keeping DACA alive, at least for now, Congress has yet to act on the issue. This creates a great deal of stress and uncertainty for the DREAMers, or the estimated 800,000 young immigrants currently participating in the program. Trump originally set the six-month deadline in order to give Congress a chance to enact legislation protecting the DREAMers. To date, however, Congress has not even taken any meaningful steps toward addressing the issue. This situation has left this large group of immigrants in a sort of legal limbo. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly has detained some DREAMers for deportation proceedings, and others continue to submit two-year renewal applications for DACA pursuant to the current court orders. But applications remained backlogged, and no one in the government with the power to do so has acted to protect the DREAMers from the uncertainty. In response, DREAMers and their supporters have demonstrated, picketed, walked out of school, spoken out, and even attempted to storm the office of House Speaker Paul Ryan. While their efforts have not gone unnoticed, the future of DACA recipients remains unclear. If you or a loved one has a deportation case in process, you need immediate legal assistance. We are the California deportation defense lawyers to whom you can turn if you or a loved one are facing deportation proceedings, no matter whether you are facing criminal charges, you have a criminal conviction, or you simply have no legal status. Regardless of the complexity or difficulty of the situation, Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. has the experience, knowledge, and skills to advocate on behalf of you and your family throughout the course of any deportation proceedings. Contact our office today and let us answer all of your questions about any aspect of deportation proceedings.