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First New DACA Applications Approved in Final Weeks of 2020 Voice of AmericaView the full article

Honduran migrant gives birth on Mexican side of border bridge KWKT - FOX 44View the full article

A lot has been written on deferred Action, a new program that starts on August 15, 2012 for young undocumented students in the United States. However, few have offered any “tips” for filing a successful Dreamer application. Applicants will find their application process will run smoother if they keep the following in mind: 1. Apply slowly. Don’t try to beat the rush and submit a partial application. If the I-821D is denied there is no right to appeal or file a motion to reopen. 2. If you have had contact with the police in the past, do NOT apply until an attorney has seen your conviction documents (docket sheets). 3. Thoroughly document your application with the evidence requested to avoid a delay in your case due to lack of evidence. 4. Download the applications from the USCIS web site. The forms, which must be filed together, are the I-821D, I-765 and I-765 WS. They are fillable online, but must be sent in hard copy to one of the four designated USCIS Immigration Lockboxes. Visit the USCIS web site to insure you file with the Lockbox which corresponds to your address. 5. While you’re applying, DO NOT travel outside of the U.S. after August 15, 2012! You will be inegible for the program. 6. Keep in mind fraud and misrepresentation can trigger a denial and result in you being placed in removal proceedings. 7. Send Immigration fees in the form of a Money Order. By doing, so you can trace the money order and ensure that the application will be processed promptly as if paid with cash. 8. Make copies of everything you submit and send the application via certified mail to confirm receipt. 9. Translate all non-English documents into English. 10. Submit proof that you arrived in the U.S. BEFORE turning 16 and have resided continuously in the U.S. for at least 5 years as of June 15, 2007. Deferred action is not an amnesty, it is not a Green Card. It is a work permit, renewable every two years, that will allow the applicant to get employment in the U.S., a driver’s license, and a Social Security number. Source: http://nbclatino.com...on-application/

For those that got themselves a lawyer, how much are you paying him/her for thier services to help you fill out the application? Just a good measure to see what you guys/girls are paying to help you fill out the applications.

Connecticut Immigrants With DACA Live Life With Uncertainty Connecticut Public RadioView the full article

Dream Act To Be Reintroduced In House As Immigration Push Grows Huffington Post WASHINGTON -- Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) will introduce Dream Act legislation near the end this month to help undocumented young people who came to the United States as children ... and more » View the full article

Newsday (subscription) NYS DREAM Act proponents hold rally at NCC Newsday (subscription) New York shouldn't wait for Congress to pass reforms to help young undocumented immigrants who go to college, said activists and students who rallied Thursday at Nassau Community College. About 20 people gathered outside the Garden City campus' ... View the full article

WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Tuesday staked out what they cast as a middle-ground option in the debate over immigration, pushing an approach that could include legalization but not a path to citizenship, as their Democratic counterparts favor, for the 11 million immigrants in the country illegally. At a House Judiciary Committee hearing exploring an overhaul of the immigration system, the first of several such hearings expected in the House, Representative Robert W. Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia and chairman of the committee, used much of his time to frame what he called “the question of the day” — “Are there options we should consider between mass deportation and a pathway to citizenship for those not lawfully in the United States?” he asked. The question was later echoed by Representative Lamar Smith, Republican of Texas and a former chairman of the committee, when he asked Mayor Julián Castro of San Antonio, “Do you see any compromise area between the current status quo and a path to citizenship?” Mr. Castro, whose twin brother, Representative Joaquín Castro, is a newly elected Democratic member from Texas, replied that he felt that a compromise was for the pathway to citizenship to be “an earned pathway.” The Republicans also signaled that they were open to the idea of breaking down immigration legislation into several smaller bills, which would allow them to deal with the question of high-skilled workers, as well as a farmworker program, without addressing what Democrats and immigration advocates say is the larger issue: the 11 million people already in the country. Representative Spencer Bachus, Republican of Alabama, for instance, said he thought the panelists could all agree that “it’s going to be a much easier lift to solve the problem of highly skilled workers.” “When you take comprehensive, then we’re dealing with certain issues like full citizenship,” he said. “And whatever else we disagree on, I think we would agree on that that’s a more toxic and contentious issue, granting full amnesty.” Immigration advocates, who had been eagerly awaiting the hearing for a hint of the tone of the debate on immigration as it unfolds in the House, said the use of the word “amnesty” would probably be a bad sign for those in favor of a comprehensive overhaul. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/us/politics/house-gop-explores-immigration-changes-short-of-citizenship.html?_r=0

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday challenged President Barack Obama's central goal for immigration reform that would put 11 million undocumented residents on a path to citizenship, adding fresh doubts on whether legislation can be passed this year. During a kick-off hearing, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte explored a possible "middle ground" between the current U.S. policy of deporting those who have come to the United States illegally and of placing them on a path to citizenship, as Obama has demanded. The hearing was the panel's first since last November's elections when Hispanic-Americans voted in droves for Obama and his fellow Democrats in Congress. Those election results caused Republicans to rethink their anti-immigration stances, which were highlighted by presidential candidate Mitt Romney's urging that illegal residents should simply "self-deport." A standoff over Democrats' goal of providing citizenship hopes for the immigrants living illegally in the United States could torpedo reform efforts in this Congress. Still, many Republicans expressed concerns about rewarding illegal immigrants with eventual citizenship, which they often decry as an "amnesty." House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, in a speech to the conservative American Enterprise Institute, noted, "While we are a nation that allows anyone to start anew, we are also a nation of laws." Cantor of Virginia is the second-ranking House Republican and has a say in which bills are debated before the full House. At the House Judiciary hearing, Goodlatte, another Virginia Republican, asked, "Are there options to consider between the extremes of mass deportation and pathway to citizenship?" Julian Castro, the Democratic mayor of San Antonio, Texas, who testified before Goodlatte's panel, responded: "I believe, as the president has pointed out ... that a path to citizenship is the best option" for the 11 million, many of whom have lived in the United States for a decade or more. Some Republicans have sketched out more modest steps in dealing with illegal immigrants who live under the threat of deportation. Instead of putting them in line for citizenship, they have suggested a permanent work visa system. But last week, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, told Reuters legislation could not be enacted unless it contains a path to full citizenship. During Tuesday's House committee hearing, Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren of California warned: "Partial legalization, as some are suggesting, is a dangerous path and we need only look at France and Germany to see how unwise it is to create a permanent underclass" in the United States. A PIECEMEAL APPROACH Other Republicans in the House Judiciary Committee raised additional ideas that could complicate comprehensive immigration reform this year, or make it impossible. Representative Spencer Bachus, an Alabama Republican, suggested splitting immigration reform into pieces so that the "more toxic and contentious issue" of citizenship for the 11 million was separated from reforms that have more widespread support. Those reforms include efforts to encourage foreigners earning advanced degrees in mathematics, engineering and science at American universities to stay in the United States and work for American companies. Cantor also hinted at a piecemeal approach, rather than the comprehensive action that Obama and his fellow Democrats want. He called for starting with legalization and citizenship for children who were brought illegally into the United States by their parents, an action that Obama last summer approved temporarily. "One of the great founding principles of our country was that children would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents," Cantor said. While Cantor's call marked movement for Republicans, many of whom opposed citizenship for the youths, it also falls well short of Obama's drive for broader legislation. A bipartisan group of senators last week unveiled a comprehensive plan that they hope to translate into legislation in coming weeks. Major holes in their outline included the kind of system that would be created for allowing future visa applicants. Senate Democrats hope to pass a comprehensive bill by mid-year with a large, bipartisan vote that could improve chances for passage of a bill in the Republican-controlled House. But House Republican leaders have not decided on whether they would pursue a major reform bill this year, according to one aide. Goodlatte acknowledged that U.S. immigration laws were badly in need of repair, but he warned against rushing to enact an immigration bill. Congress, he said, "needs to take the time to learn from the past so that our efforts to reform our immigration laws do not repeat the same mistakes." He added that there were many questions about how a "large-scale legalization program would work, what it would cost and how it would prevent illegal immigration in the future." Reformers and minority groups are hoping the legislative effort gets a boost from conservative Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, the new chairman of the House's immigration subcommittee. On Tuesday, Gowdy captured the attention of the crowded House hearing room when he detailed the story of a 12-year-old immigrant from Sierra Leone whose hands were cut off by soldiers with machetes during the civil war in her country. She "tried to run, tried to hide, asked God to let her die," Gowdy said. But, like Cantor, in a reference to those who have crossed into the United States illegally, Gowdy also warned that the federal government must enforce the laws it has on the books. "What we cannot become is a nation where the law is enforced selectively, or not at all," Gowdy said. (Editing by Alistair Bell and Vicki Allen) Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-lobby-immigration-reform-amid-citizenship-dispute-001714316--business.html;_ylt=AnH_QToXm2vnr.alL07bXp0JVux_;_ylu=X3oDMTIyNWRka2MyBG1pdANBVFQgSG9tZSBXaWRnZXRyb24gVGVzdCAxBHBvcwMxMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBdHRXaWRnZXRyb25Bc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said Tuesday the nation's immigration system is "in desperate need of repair" as he opened Congress' first hearing this year on immigration. Whether Congress will be able to agree on how to fix it remained unclear. The session came as President Barack Obama pushes for swift action to pass immigration legislation and as bipartisan Senate negotiators work to craft a bill. But in a sign of the difficulties to come, the Judiciary chairman, Republican Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, cautioned against a "rush to judgment" and said each piece of the issue must be examined in detail. Goodlatte said there are lots of questions about how any large-scale legalization program would work, how much it would cost and how it would prevent illegal immigration in future. Obama supports a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country, something many Republicans oppose. Goodlatte questioned whether another approach might be possible: "Are there options we should consider between the extremes of mass deportation and a pathway to citizenship for those not lawfully present in the United States?" he asked. His question underscored the discomfort of many majority House Republicans with granting eventual citizenship to illegal immigrants, something conservatives often decry as amnesty. At one point the hearing was interrupted by protesters, apparently young illegal immigrants known as "DREAMers" brought to the country as children, who shouted "undocumented and unafraid!" before being led out. Yet Tuesday's hearing, which focused on fixing the legal immigration system and on enforcement, was notable for the generally measured tone from some Republicans known for strong anti-immigration positions. Several questioned whether there's a way short of citizenship to deal with illegal immigrants, and others on the panel agreed on the need to allow more high-skilled workers to enter the country, a priority for technology companies. "Let's not let the more contentious issues and the idea of comprehensive reform prevent us from passing something," said Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala. It was part of a larger shift by Republicans who have begun to embrace action on immigration reform in the wake of the November elections in which large proportions of Hispanic voters supported Obama, helping him win re-election. Some GOP leaders have concluded that softening their views on immigration is becoming a political necessity. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., delivered a speech Tuesday embracing "an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought to this country as children and who know no other home." It appeared to be a change for Cantor, who voted against DREAM Act legislation to allow a path to citizenship for certain immigrants brought here as youths. Source: http://news.yahoo.com/house-opens-first-immigration-hearing-161659660--politics.html;_ylt=AkrcMW5uRVFWlzW4au1NQa4JVux_;_ylu=X3oDMTIydDc2NGNpBG1pdANBVFQgSG9tZSBXaWRnZXRyb24gVGVzdCAxBHBvcwMxMwRzZWMDTWVkaWFBdHRXaWRnZXRyb25Bc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

2nd phase of Dream Act goes too far U-T San Diego With that, non-legal residents in this state are now eligible for assistance such as community college fee waivers, Cal Grants and similar aid, with awards of up to $12,200 a year. To be eligible for the money, students must graduate from a California ... and more » View the full article

Dream Act would be nightmare for America Washington Times We have kids coming out of high schools and colleges who can't find jobs, and the competition will become even tougher if President Obama's arrogant and unconstitutional Dream Act is enacted. It is bothersome that Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican ... Opinion | The 'DREAM Act' negates real, legal American DreamMiami Student Dream Act on the way?Amsterdam News all 3 news articles » View the full article

Capitol Digest: Tax code coupling, education reform, DREAM Act Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier DREAM ACT: Legislation proposed by Senate Democrats to grant in-state tuition rates for children of undocumented immigrants probably won't go very far in the GOP-led Iowa House if it makes it that far, House Speaker Kraig Paulsen said Thursday. and more » View the full article

Plan linking Hurricane Sandy funds to DREAM Act triggers clash between Staten ... SILive.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The furor over GOP Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis' linkage of DREAM Act legislation and Hurricane Sandy victims has sparked an open battle with one of her Staten Island colleagues. In a strongly worded public condemnation ... and more » View the full article

WTVR Virginia DREAM Act deferred Daily Press (blog) Known as the Virginia DREAM Act the legislation would have allowed undocumented students who have achived federal deferred-action status; attended high school in Virginia for at least three years and graduated; whose parents have paid Virginia income ... Virginia 'Dream Act' killed by Senate CommitteeWTVR Virginia Dream Act goes down to defeat in committeeAugusta Free Press all 6 news articles » View the full article

Opinion | The 'DREAM Act' negates real, legal American Dream Miami Student The Dream Act is a legislative proposal, which would allow immigrants under the age of 35 who have come to the U.S. illegally to apply for legal status and citizenship. Only those immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 can apply for legal ... View the full article

WTVR Virginia 'Dream Act' killed by Senate Committee WTVR RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) — Legislation that would have provided in-state tuition to the children of some illegal immigrants has been killed by lawmakers at the General Assembly. The Senate Education Committee shot down both Senator Donald McEachin's ... and more » View the full article

Dream Act on the way? Amsterdam News Maybe the notion of bipartisan cooperation isn't just wishful thinking. On Monday, eight senators met and hammered out a plan that would provide undocumented immigrants immediate but provisional status to live and work in America. Along with the ... View the full article

Dream Act gives away privileges of our country Syracuse.com (blog) ... what our ancestors built and give away what they treasured to an illegal immigrant population unwilling to pay the price of admission to this still-great country. The Dream Act before our state Legislature has a Downstate ''silver'' lining that we ... View the full article

WAMU DREAM Act Fails In Virginia State Senate WAMU The Virginia Senate Education Committee defeated a DREAM Act bill put before it today. The bill, which was just yesterday reported out of a legislative committee in the commonwealth for the first time in five years, would have allowed some undocumented ... and more » View the full article

If the DREAM Act kids tug at Brewer's heart, then she ought to quit denying ... Tucson Citizen I really want to believe that the Dream Act kids tug at her heart! Given that she came out on 8/15/12, the day DACA commenced, to deny driver's licenses to Dreamers really convinces me that her heart is hardened. If her heart is so touched by the ... and more » View the full article

WAMU DREAM Act Moves Forward In Virginia WAMU The DREAM Act is closer to reality in Virginia, where lawmakers from both parties have unanimously voted to put the measure on a path to a full vote by the House of delegates. For first time in five years, a DREAM Act bill — which would grant ... View the full article

Dream Act change would be ill-timed Gazette.Net: Maryland Community News Online For months, Maryland has been debating the Dream Act, which allows students, who cannot provide documents that they are in the country legally, to pay in-state tuition at the state's colleges and universities. After five years of attempts, the General ... View the full article

Va. 'Dream Act' bill clears House panel Washington Post (blog) Virginia's version of the Dream Act cleared a House subcommittee Tuesday with unanimous, bipartisan support. The bill will allow undocumented students who graduate from commonwealth high schools to pay in-state tuition rates at Virginia colleges and ... and more » View the full article

Columbia Grad Becomes First Latino DACA Recipient To Win Rhodes Scholarship The National MemoView the full article