DACA UPDATE

On January 9, 2018, a federal judge temporarily stopped the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

USCIS issued DACA renewal guidelines on January 13, stating that it will accept DACA renewal applications for anyone whose DACA expired after 9/5/2016 or will be expiring, and will accept new initial applications from people who previously had DACA but their DACA lapsed before 9/5/2016.

USCIS is not accepting applications from individuals who have never had DACA.

If you live in Maine and have or ever have had DACA, contact the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project ASAP for your free legal consultation and assistance renewing your DACA status.  Call 207-780-1593 to schedule an appointment.

Considerations:

• You may lose the $495 fee if the government appeals the court decision while your application is pending.

• It is a risk to apply if you have been arrested or convicted of an offense, or had other interactions with law enforcement since receiving DACA.

• It is a risk to apply if you have had any interaction with an immigration judge or immigration court, before or after you received DACA.

• If you have any questions at all, talk to an immigration lawyer or DOJ accredited representative about your case.