DHS explains decision on DACA, lawyer offers assistance

As the Department of Homeland Security, DHS explained the decision of the President Donald Trump’s administration on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that individuals who currently have DACA will be allowed to retain both DACA and their work authorizations (EADs) until they expire, an immigration lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, Inna Simakovsky has offered to assist affected DACA beneficiaries.

A statement from the DHS said that it has “initiated the orderly phase out of the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DHS will provide a limited, six-month window during which it will consider certain requests for DACA and applications for work authorization, under specific parameters.

According to the Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke, “All DACA benefits are provided on a two-year basis, so individuals who currently have DACA will be allowed to retain both DACA and their work authorizations (EADs) until they expire,

“USCIS will adjudicate, on an individual, case by case basis:

·          Properly filed pending DACA initial requests and associated applications for employment authorization documents (EADs) that have been accepted as of Sept. 5, 2017.

·         Properly filed pending DACA renewal requests and associated applications for EADs from current beneficiaries that have been accepted as of the date of this memorandum, and from current beneficiaries whose benefits will expire between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 that have been accepted as of Oct. 5, 2017.

·         Individuals who have not submitted an application by Sept. 5, for an initial request under DACA may no longer apply. USCIS will reject all applications for initial requests received after Sept. 5.”

Meanwhile, immigration lawyer, Inna Simakovsky told the New Americans that “We are disappointed by Trump’s decision to end DACA. There are many rumors going around as to what will happen and what steps people should take, please make sure your information is coming from a reliable source.

“We are actively monitoring the situation and will post official information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts. We will also post updates about what actions to take.

“At this time, we encourage all people with DACA to come in and meet with us to discuss the specifics of their situation to see what options are available beyond DACA” she added.

Also, another Ohio-based immigration lawyer, Emmanuel Olawale described the Trump’s administration decision on DACA thus: “ending DACA would be one of the cruelest act by a president, an act that is uncalled for, un-American and one that does not extol the virtues of Christianity as this man was overwhelmingly supported by the fundamentalist, Christian Right who misguidedly believe they have their king David.”

According to him, “the beneficiaries are in danger of deportation, losing their jobs, income, shelter and their way of life as they’ve known it since DACA was instituted.

“Those who are under it have just six months to hold their work authorization. After the six months, the rescission takes effect: no more legal work, driver license, and all the incidental issues that come with not having those are reborn, including removal, he said”