Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process For Young People Who Are Low Enforcement Priorities

Cuevas, Garcia & Torres, P.A.
Press Release
June 15, 2012 Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010

WASHINGTON Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings. Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization.

DHS continues to focus its enforcement resources on the removal of individuals who pose a national security or public safety risk, including immigrants convicted of crimes, violent criminals, felons, and repeat immigration law offenders. Todays action further enhances the Department’s ability to focus on these priority removals.

Under this directive, individuals who demonstrate that they meet the following criteria will be eligible for an exercise of discretion, specifically deferred action, on a case-by-case basis:

  1. Came to the United States under the age of sixteen;
  2. Have continuously resided in the United States for a least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and are present in the United States on the date of this memorandum;
  3. Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;
  4. Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

More information will be available in the next couple of days. Please contact our immigration department with any questions you may have at (305) 461 9500.

Cuevas, Garcia & Torres, P.A.
Attorneys at Law Providing Definitive Legal Solutions.
7480 SW 40th St, Suite 600, Miami, FL 33155
Tel: (305) 461 9500 Fax: (786)362-7127