FORT MYERS, Fla. — Change is coming after a decision late Friday from a federal judge in New York who is now establishing an order for not only the Department of Homeland Security but also U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to accept applications for D.A.C.A immediately.
“Also bring it back to its original position, where you can get 2-year employment authorization and even apply for a travel document to be able to leave the United States and come back legally,” said Pablo Hurtado, Immigration Attorney.
The Supreme Court decision from this summer left D.A.C.A recipients in a huge limbo after U.S.C.I.S was not accepting applications and decreasing 2-year employment authorizations to a one year with no travel document. However, immigration attorney Pablo Hurtado says Friday’s decision could have both positive and negative impacts.
“There are about 700,000 D.A.C.A recipients that can renew for the 2-year plan and there are about another 300,000 dreamers that are now eligible since it stopped in 2017. All those folks are now going to be able to apply. Then what’s going to happen when Joe Biden takes office because there are serval positions that have been left vacant that have acting directors that Joe Biden is going to have to fill. So is he going to have any cooperation from the senate to be able to appoint all these different directors?,” said Hurtado.
At this time U.S.C.I.S has agreed to comply with the judge's order, but in the meantime, families should start preparing.
“It’s very important to contact your attorney right away, to contact the different organizations that are out there helping folks to fill out applications, and just start getting your papers ready to file,” said Hurtado.
Hurtado says this is a huge win for D.A.C.A recipients and supporters around the country and he hopes this decision is one that will stay in place.
“700,000 people, that is a lot of people that are impacting our economy, paying taxes, buying homes, just creating that kind of economic impact that our country needs. It’s incumbent and both a challenge for both President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to be able to convince Congress, whoever is going to be dominating the Senate, to get a permanent solution for the Dreamers,” said Hurtado.
At this time U.S.C.I.S has posted on their website what those processes and procedures are.
