Despite earlier hints that the “Dreamers” – undocumented youth who were brought to the United States illegally or lost their status while they were underage – might be allowed to retain their work permits and reprieve from deportation, Attorney General Sessions announced today that the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will end on March 5, 2018.  The six-month lag time is intended to allow Congress to codify DACA-like provisions into law.
Continue Reading DACA Dreamers on Life Support

Donald Trump’s statements about the U.S. immigration system were a main feature of his presidential campaign. Now that he has been elected, many are questioning whether and how those statements might become actual policies.
Continue Reading What Businesses Can Expect from Trump’s Immigration Agenda

On October 5, 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) issued additional criteria  for determining when individuals who are in committed, long-term, same-sex partnerships may avoid removal (i.e., deportation) from the United States.  According to the memorandum, the following factors are relevant (though not sufficient) in exercising favorable prosecutorial discretion:

  • The partners are each

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that undocumented youth who were brought here as children and who meet certain criteria are now eligible for “deferred action,” a form of long-term relief from deportation that allows employment authorization and college attendance, but does not lead to a green card.  Known as DREAMers (after the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which Congress has failed to pass each time it has been introduced since 2001), these young people have become increasingly vocal and visible in public protests and in the media.
Continue Reading Obama Gives DREAMers Relief from Deportation