Dream Deferrals

It has to be scary to walk into a field office of the United States Customs and Immigration Service, knowing full well you are in the United States illegally and ask to stay. I'm a natural born U.S. Citizen and I can only imagine the fear. To me, illegal immigration has always been a non-issue. My ancestors are Native American, and Dutch on my mother's side; and my father's side is English and Irish. I grew up in the era of baby boomer entitlement well aware that this country is the great melting pot, and proud of it.

I've been in the Tampa field office, and the one in Orlando – both intimidating places. Adults talk in low tones, children sit quietly. Everyone watches each other.

Posted on the USCIS website:

“On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion. Deferred action does not provide an individual with lawful status.”

DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is an abbreviated version of the Dream Act that became mired in controversy and never passed. DACA is for the children who came to the United States illegally, mostly with their parents and now they have grown up in the states and it is their home. Imagine the six year old who came to the United States holding his mother's hand, wide eyed and scared, trusting in his parents promise of a better life and a better future. And found it. Families from other countries found their promised land, their better life in America.

The requirements as posted on the USCIS site, to apply to stay through DACA are simple and clear:

Guidelines

You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you:

1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
3. Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
4. Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
5. Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

There are three main forms that must be filed:

Form I-821D – the application for deferred action for childhood arrivals
Form I – 765 – the application for work authorization.

Form I-765WS – the application for work authorization work sheet.

According to an online article published on November 23, 2012, on http://www.newshour24.com -

“After the first month of the program, 82,000 applications had been filed with USCIS. By Nov. 15 – the program's three-month mark – 300,000 applications had been filed, marking steady growth.” And, according to the Migration Policy Institute, www.migrationpolicy.org , approximately 140,000 Florida residents can benefit from this new policy.

I believe that this legislation is humane and fair.