Join the ILRC’s Policy Director, Sameera Hafiz, and  ILRC Legal Program Director, Alison Kamhi, as we revisit the policy recommendations put forth in our Blueprint for the Biden Administration. What progress has been made in the last year? Where do we go from here? 

 Thank you to all of our donors and supporters who make the Immigration Issues Explored series possible. 

Thanks again for attending the ILRC donor conference call, Blueprint for the Biden Administration: One Year Update. We wanted to follow up in response to a few questions we received during the call for more information

1. 1. Naturalization: During the call, ILRC discussed advocacy with USCIS to increase access to disability waivers for green card holders applying to naturalize. USCIS proposed welcome changes to Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, to simplify and streamline the process to make it easier for disabled green card holders to obtain citizenship, but these changes have not yet been implemented. Please see the following advocacy letter regarding the proposed revisions (Nov. 2021): https://www.ilrc.org/advocacy-comment-n-648-naturalization-disability.
   2. TPS: ILRC discussed the increased use of temporary protected status (TPS) as protection for vulnerable populations during the Biden Administration. We were pleased to see the announcement on March 16 that Afghanistan has been designated for TPS, which will help protect Afghan nationals in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions in Afghanistan: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/secretary-mayorkas-designates-afghanistan-for-temporary-protected-status.

Join the Immigrant Legal Resource Center for the next in our 2021 Donor Conference Call series, Immigration Issues Explored. December’s topic is "Fighting Injustice” explored how the criminal legal system in Texas unjustly treats immigrants and drives deportations, and what strategies the ILRC employs to fight back.

The call was led ILRC’s Executive Director, Eric Cohen, in conversation with ILRC Senior Staff Attorney, Lena Graber, and Texas-based Staff Attorney, Anita Gupta.

Watch the recording here with passcode: Q^17zKcM

Resources:

• To view the “Justice for All?” Harris County Report: https://www.ilrc.org/HarrisCountyReport  
• TX page: https://www.ilrc.org/texas 
• Moving Texas Forward: https://www.ilrc.org/moving-texas-forward  
• Article link re: Operation Lone Star investigation request – Castro, et al.:  https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/immigration/2021/10/29/412064/texas-congressman-joaquin-castro-signs-letter-urging-a-doj-probe-into-operation-lone-star/

The Higher Education Legal Services Project is a California-funded effort to provide FREE immigration legal services to students enrolled in the California Community College & California State University systems. This unprecedented project brings together trusted and reputable legal services providers to offer direct legal support to immigrant college students so they can best assess their unique case and plan for their future.

Partner organizations offer pro bono immigration consultations and case support on campus and/or online to any enrolled students – whether they are full time, part time, or they are taking non-credit courses, dual enrollment, and adult education courses.

The support includes a wide range of services including, but not limited to, screening for different forms of relief, DACA renewals, family-based petitions, citizenship/naturalization requests, and more. Students attending California Community Colleges are also eligible to have their DACA fees covered under this program. Faculty and staff at California Community Colleges are also eligible for free immigration legal services under this project. Select the option that applies to you below to be routed to the legal services page for your respective school system.

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In the first of a three-part Immigration Issues Explored series, ILRC Founder and General Counsel, Bill Ong Hing facilitated a conversation with staff attorney and immigrant-youth specialist, Rachel Prandini on the state of immigrants seeking asylum at the southern border, how the Biden Administration is continuing the inhuman treatment of asylees and what the ILRC is doing to push back.

Thank you to all of our donors and supporters who make the Immigration Issues Explored series possible.

To access this webinar, click here and enter the following password when prompted: &A9ADzex

Welcome to Our Virtual Burton Awards

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has moved the annual Phillip Burton Immigration & Civil Rights Awards celebration online again this year continue to keep us all safe during the pandemic. We are creating a virtual experience for you to enjoy. There will be special content from our staff and board as well as recognition of our generous event sponsors.

 

 

 

 

 

Frontline Heroes Award

In these uncertain times, one thing has been laid bare—immigrants are essential. From securing our nation’s food supply to providing life-saving healthcare services, immigrants have been, and continue to be, instrumental in keeping the critical infrastructure of our society running.

In light of the extraordinary circumstances we are living through, the ILRC created the Frontline Heroes Award to lift-up the collective service and sacrifice of all the Immigrant Essential Workers. We are pleased to introduce you to two honorees who are accepting this award on behalf of all the unsung frontline heroes.

  

Double Your Gift Today

The Burton Awards event is not just a gathering for friends and colleagues. It is the ILRC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The money that we raise is critical to our ability to advocate for a bold new vision for what immigrant rights and immigration policy should be that advances the ILRC’s mission to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. 

Your donation—at all levels—will make an immediate difference in the ILRC’s ability to continue its high-impact education and advocacy. It also helps us pivot, when needed, to address new challenges or threats to immigrants and their families. 

Because proceeds from the Burton Awards are imperative to our work, the ILRC’s Board of Directors has established a matching fund for all gifts made between now and July 31st. For every dollar raised, our board will generously match your contribution on a one-to-one basis—up to $43,000! That means your gift of $100 grows to $200 and makes double the impact in sustaining the work of our talented staff team. 

Of course, all contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and we will be delighted to add your name to our donor list. 

MAKE A GIFT NOW or SPONSOR THE BURTON AWARDS

2021 Burton Awards Sponsorships

This year, we hope you will join a community of like-minded supporters and advocates by sponsoring the 2021 Burton Awards. All sponsorships for the 2021 Burton Awards are fully tax-deductible, as allowed by law. The ILRC truly appreciates your support of our online event. Your investment in our work allows us to help immigrants and their families stay together in this country and thrive.

You can also make a donation to our event by selecting a predesignated donation level or by entering an amount in the "Additional Donation" box.

All 2021 Burton Awards sponsorship levels include the following two benefits:

• Newsletter & Annual Report recognition
• Recognition in social media, email, and press releases as listing (Pinnacle and Premiere levels include company logo in press releases)

If you have any questions about the sponsorship levels or benefits, please contact Cynthia Tirado Housel, Director of Leadership Giving, at chousel@ilrc.org.

Additional Benefits by Level Include:

Pinnacle

$25,000

Website recognition with logo and company website hyperlink for 6 months

Opportunity to record a 30 second video for the event webpage. Your video can be used to congratulate our honorees, share why you support the ILRC, or to advocate for fairer and more just immigrant rights.*

Premiere

$15,000

Website recognition with logo and company website hyperlink for 4 months

Opportunity to record a 30 second video for the event webpage. Your video can be used to congratulate our honorees, share why you support the ILRC, or to advocate for fairer and more just immigrant rights.*

Champion

$10,000

Website recognition with logo and company website hyperlink for 2 months

Opportunity to record a 30 second video for the event webpage. Your video can be used to congratulate our honorees, share why you support the ILRC, or to advocate for fairer and more just immigrant rights.*

Major

$7,000

Website recognition with logo

Leader

$5,000

Website recognition as listing

Spirit

$5,000

Website recognition as listing

Patron

$3,500

Website recognition as listing

Nonprofit Partner

$1,200

Website recognition as listing

*All videos are subject to approval by the ILRC prior to upload and may be edited for time or content.

2021 Burton Awards Sponsorships

This year, we hope you will join a community of like-minded supporters and advocates by sponsoring the 2021 Burton Awards. All sponsorships for the 2021 Burton Awards are fully tax-deductible, as allowed by law. The ILRC truly appreciates your support of our online event. Your investment in our work allows us to help immigrants and their families stay together in this country and thrive.

You can also make a donation to our event by selecting a predesignated donation level or by entering an amount in the "Additional Donation" box.

All 2021 Burton Awards sponsorship levels include the following two benefits:

• Newsletter & Annual Report recognition
• Recognition in social media, email, and press releases as listing (Pinnacle and Premiere levels include company logo in press releases)

If you have any questions about the sponsorship levels or benefits, please contact Cynthia Tirado Housel, Director of Leadership Giving, at chousel@ilrc.org.

Additional Benefits by Level Include:

Pinnacle

$25,000

Website recognition with logo and company website hyperlink for 6 months

Opportunity to record a 30 second video for the event webpage. Your video can be used to congratulate our honorees, share why you support the ILRC, or to advocate for fairer and more just immigrant rights.*

Premiere

$15,000

Website recognition with logo and company website hyperlink for 4 months

Opportunity to record a 30 second video for the event webpage. Your video can be used to congratulate our honorees, share why you support the ILRC, or to advocate for fairer and more just immigrant rights.*

Champion

$10,000

Website recognition with logo and company website hyperlink for 2 months

Opportunity to record a 30 second video for the event webpage. Your video can be used to congratulate our honorees, share why you support the ILRC, or to advocate for fairer and more just immigrant rights.*

Major

$7,000

Website recognition with logo

Leader

$5,000

Website recognition as listing

Spirit

$5,000

Website recognition as listing

Patron

$3,500

Website recognition as listing

Nonprofit Partner

$1,200

Website recognition as listing

*All videos are subject to approval by the ILRC prior to upload and may be edited for time or content.

Last Updated: February 10, 2025

On January 17th, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (“Court”) issued its latest decision in the ongoing DACA litigation. While nothing has changed, and current DACA recipients can continue to renew their DACA and obtain both protection from deportation and work authorization, it is important to understand what the current state of DACA is and what can change in the future.

What does the Court decision say?

The Court ruled that certain aspects of the DACA rule, particularly the federal government's authority to grant work authorization, was unlawful. However, the Court acknowledged that the federal government retains the power to grant deferred action, providing protection from deportation. While the case is still pending, the Court has decided to pause its decision, meaning everything remains the same for now for DACA holders. 

Does DACA protect me from deportation, and what should I do if I encounter an immigration officer?

Yes, a current and valid grant of deferred action protects you from deportation.  Remember, if you encounter an immigration official, you have the right to assert your constitutional rights and remain silent. You do not have to present any documentation to them or respond to their questions.  

If they are attempting to detain you, remember that you are protected from deportation during the validity of your deferred action.  You can inform them of your DACA status and carry a copy of your current DACA approval or work permit as proof. However, it's essential to stay informed about any updates to DACA policies.

Who can renew and when should they renew?

Currently, only DACA recipients who have a valid grant of DACA or whose DACA expired less than a year ago can renew their DACA.  

When should they submit their renewal?

• If your DACA expires in less than six months: File to renew as soon as possible! 

• If your DACA expires within 6 months to a year: Consider renewing now. USCIS is currently accepting early DACA renewals.  

• NOTE: DACA renewals are granted from date of approval, not from the date of the prior DACA grant expiring. This means that some may lose weeks or months from their current DACA depending on when the renewal is granted and when their current DACA expires. Speak to a trusted legal service provider to discuss the benefits of renewing early. 

• If your DACA expires more than 1 year from today: It may not be worth renewing now. Speak to a trusted legal service provider to understand your options. If you renew too early, it might not gain you a lot of time on your DACA. USCIS will grant your DACA from the date of approval not from the time of expiration.  

Can people who never had DACA or whose DACA expired more than a year ago apply?

Unfortunately, initial DACA requests are not being granted right now. This includes DACA requests from people who have never had DACA and from people whose DACA has been expired for more than a year. Current USCIS guidance treats DACAs that expired more than a year ago as initial DACA request, which are not being granted at this moment.  

Is advance parole still available for DACA recipients? 

Currently advance parole is available for DACA recipients who have a reason to travel for humanitarian, employment, or educational reasons. Although the Trump administration issued an executive order to more heavily scrutinize other parole programs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released guidance confirming  that advance parole for DACA recipients remains unaffected by the executive order.  This was confirmed during a recent local San Francisco CBP meeting.  However, it is highly recommended that DACA recipients speak and work with a legal service provider before applying and traveling on advance parole in case policies change while the person is abroad. 

As of now, access to DACA advance parole remains an option, and DACA recipients have been approved for advance parole and have been able to return successfully during the first few weeks of the Trump administration, but this could change in the future.  

To ensure DACA recipients are prepared to travel and access advance parole, it is recommended that they:  

• Consult with a legal service provider before leaving the country, even if they have already been approved for advance parole, especially if a person has a removal (deportation order), arrests, or other complex issues. 

• ALERT: It is important to discuss the impact that any arrests or convictions can have on someone seeking to travel in light of the Laken Riley Act. If you have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or have admitted committing an act with elements of burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a law enfacement officer offense, or any crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury to another, consider not traveling. 

• Work with their legal representative to request advance parole and to prepare documents for travel, which should include the representative’s contact information in case it is needed.  

• Prepare to be sent to secondary inspection upon return. This is a normal process whereby DACA recipients are likely to be sent to secondary inspection upon re-entry for CBP to verify the validity of the advance parole. For more information on secondary inspection and how to prepare, see ILRC’s Preparing for Re-Entry After Traveling on Advance Parole guide. 

• Seek emergency advance parole, if possible. Emergency advance parole is available to those who have an urgent or critical need to travel abroad within 15 days from the date of their advance parole application. This will allow DACA recipients to obtain a decision of their advance parole application more quickly instead of waiting months. For more information on emergency advance parole and how you can request it, see Informed Immigrant’s guide.  

As noted, for now, DACA recipients can continue to seek advance parole but should first consult with a trusted legal representative to discuss the benefits and risks of using advance parole under the Trump administration.  

What changes can the Trump administration make to DACA and advance parole?

While we’re unable to predict the future, advocates believe that because of the pending litigation, it is not expected that the Trump administration will make any changes to the DACA program or advance parole requests until the litigation is resolved. It is expected that the Trump administration will wait for a decision from the court before making any official changes to DACA. 

While the general access to DACA and advance parole has not changed, USCIS, under the Trump administration, could take actions that can affect DACA recipients. For example: 

• Application processing may slow DACA renewal and advance parole processing; 

• There may be more scrutiny for DACA recipients who travel on advance parole and have arrests, deportation orders, or other serious immigration violations; or 

• There may be an increase in requests for evidence for advance parole because adjudicators are instructed to find reasons to deny applications. 

These changes have not happened and may never happen but, given the rapid changes that are occurring in immigration now, it is important to stay informed and connect with a trusted legal service provider to understand any changes or announcements and their impact on your case.

 i.      This Community Alert was produced in partnership with the Cornell Law School Path2Papers Project.

What is the DACA Rule and How Does it Impact Me?

On August 30, 2022, the Biden Administration issued a new rule on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that will incorporate DACA into the Federal Regulations. Since its announcement, several questions have been raised around who can access DACA now and what it means for all those first-time applicants who are waiting to obtain DACA. This community resource outlines key points for you to keep in mind as you navigate access to DACA now and when the rule goes into effect on October 31, 2022.

How to Complete a DACA Renewal

This video details how to complete a DACA renewal application packet by walking through the various forms’ questions to highlight what they mean and focus on areas worth paying close attention to. As always, we highly encourage applicants to seek a consultation with a trusted legal service provider before submitting their packets. Namely this is so applicants can ensure they are submitting their information as accurately as possible and addressing the dimensions of their specific case that may or may not allow them to be eligible for other forms of immigration relief. In this one-hour walkthrough video, the ILRC’s Legal Outreach Coordinator, Abraham Bedoy, dives deep into each form required for a renewal so those taking on their own application packet (forms: I-821D, I-765, I-765WS, G-1145) can follow along to double-check their entries.

Criminal Records for DACA

Persons are barred from receiving or renewing DACA if they have been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, three or more misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety. DACA applicants who have been arrested or convicted of a crime may still be eligible, but they should first obtain their criminal records and take them to an expert immigration practitioner to obtain legal advice about their eligibility and potential risks of applying. This resource provides persons applying for DACA with instructions about what criminal records they need for their application and how they can find them.

DACA: Continuous Residence

Applicants must meet certain requirements to be eligible for DACA, including showing that they have been continuously residing in the United States since June 15, 2012. Acquiring documents to use as evidence to prove the continuous residence requirement can be tedious. As such, this resource focuses on the types of evidence initial DACA applicants can gather to prove continuous residence and where applicants can get this evidence.

On December 4, 2020 a federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fully restore the original DACA program.

What does this mean for me?

USCIS must start accepting initial DACA requests from first-time applicants.

Effective December 4, 2020, USCIS must begin to process DACA first-time requests. This includes all people who were eligible for the program but were not able to apply before the September 2017 termination, and those who applied after the June 2020 Supreme Court decision but had their request rejected.

A person can be eligible for DACA if they:

1. Were born after June 15, 1981;
2. Came to the United States before their 16th birthday;
3. Were physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012 and when applying for DACA;
4. Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
5. Have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 until the present;
6. Meet certain educational requirement or were honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces; and
7. Have not been convicted of certain crimes

Individuals who are interested in applying for the program should consult a legal service provider to see how they can prepare and file a request. To find a legal service provider in your area, visit: https://bit.ly/ianimmhelp.

USCIS must process applications according to the 2012 DACA Program requirements.
All applicants who are eligible to renew their DACA can continue to submit their DACA renewal applications. This includes people who currently have DACA, whose DACA has expired, and those whose DACA was terminated, but are still eligible.

USICS will automatically extend all DACA grants issued for one year to two years.
People who applied and had their applications processed after the publication of the July 28, 2020 memo were issued DACA protections valid for one year. Now that the Court invalidated this memo, these DACA protections will be automatically extended to two years. Recipients should receive notice from USCIS indicating this extension of their case.

USCIS will process Advance Parole request for DACA recipients who can demonstrate they need to travel due to education, employment, or humanitarian reasons.
DACA recipients can apply for an international travel permit called “Advance Parole” if they can show they need to travel for “humanitarian, education, or employment” purposes. It is important that people consult a legal service provider before they apply for and travel on advance parole to discuss any risks, including COVID-19 restrictions.