USCIS |
| Blog | Posted By: hindtodaynews on:8/15/2012 5:24:14 PM |
Agency successfully meets 60-day implementation date
Aug. 15, 2012
WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced
that it will begin accepting requests, effective immediately, for
consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals. On June 15,
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that certain
people who came to the United States as children and meet other key
guidelines may request, on a case-by-case basis, consideration of deferred action.
“USCIS has developed a rigorous review process for deferred action
requests under guidelines issued by Secretary Napolitano,” said USCIS
Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “Childhood arrivals who meet the guidelines
and whose cases are deferred will now be able to live without fear of
removal, and be able to more fully contribute their talents to our great
nation.”
Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal
action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion. USCIS
will review requests and make decisions on a case-by-case basis. While
it does not provide lawful status or a pathway to permanent residence or
citizenship, individuals whose cases are deferred as part of this
process will not be removed from the United States for a two-year
period, subject to renewal, and may also apply for employment
authorization.
USCIS is committed to ensuring that this new process works within the
agency’s mission to administer our nation’s immigration benefits,
provide high quality service to the public, and safeguard the integrity
of the immigration system.
To learn more about the deferred action for childhood arrivals process, please visit www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.