Provided by Immigration Legal Counsel, a ministry of Disciples Home Missions
aFebruary 18, 2015
DAPA and Expanded DACA Programs Temporarily On Hold
On February 16, 2015, a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) from starting the two new immigration programs that President Obama announced in November:
1) Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and,
2) the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Expanded DACA).
The Department of Justice has promised to appeal the decision, but in the meantime, these two new programs are on hold. USCIS is not accepting applications for either of these programs at this time. This court order does not affect the existing DACA program that began in 2012. Youth and young adults can still apply for DACA for the first time or renew their DACA.
Advocates believe that this decision is a temporary setback, and the programs will ultimately be allowed to begin. While we wait for a final decision from the courts, individuals hoping to be eligible for these programs should remain calm and continue gathering the documents they will need to apply once the programs begin.
Legal services organizations, including Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel, continue to prepare for implementation of the DAPA program. Pastors who have contacted Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel about representation for DAPA will be receiving initial intake and representation forms to complete in about a month. Please contact Tana with any questions or concerns.
