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Post date: Dec 11, 2020 1:6:33 PM

Update: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

12/10/2020

December 10, 2020

Update: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Dear Stakeholder,

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) is sending this message to let you know that on December 7, 2020 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an update regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

In accordance with a December 4, 2020 order from a U.S. District Court, effective December 7, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is:

Accepting first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under DACA based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017;

Accepting DACA renewal requests based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017;

Accepting applications for advance parole travel documents based on the terms of the DACA policy prior to September 5, 2017;

Extending one-year grants of deferred action under DACA to two years; and

Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years.

USCIS has stated that it will take appropriate steps to provide evidence of the one-year extensions of deferred action and employment authorization documents under DACA to individuals who were issued documentation on or after July 28, 2020, with a one-year validity period.

DHS noted that it will comply with the judge’s order while it remains in effect, but added that it may seek relief from the order.

The CIS Ombudsman will continue to work on requests for case assistance regarding DACA and will share further updates on this topic as appropriate.

For additional information, please see the USCIS news alert.