President Obama recently announced a new Deferred Action Program for people who are in the United States without lawful immigration status. This new Program is called DAPA, or Deferred Action for Parental Accountability If you qualify for this program you may be able to get a work permit, a driver’s…
DACA has been expanded by President Obama in his Executive Order of November 20th, 2014 to include individuals of all ages (not limited to those under 31 as of June 15, 2012) and for those who have continuously resided in the United States since January 1st, 2010. People who entered…
President Obama announced yesterday a vast expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and a new form of deferred action for parents (DAP) of lawful permanent residents and United States citizens who entered the United States without authorization or have overstayed their visas. You may be able…
DHS Announces Temporary Protected Status Designations for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. WASHINGTON- Due to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has announced his decision to designate Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. As…
Summary of Recent Published BIA Decisions: Matter of Munroe, 26 I&N Dec. 428 (BIA 2014); The Board held that when an alien applies for a waiver pursuant to INA § 216(c)(4)(A) (I-751 waiver petition under extreme hardship theory) the only period relevant for the determination of whether the requisite hardship…
Jeremy Lasnetski and John Gihon, partners with Lasnetski Gihon Law, will be panelists on multiple topics this weekend at AILA Central Florida’s Annual Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The 28th Annual Fall Conference, entitled, “Basics and Beyond at the Beach” is a two-day conference at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach…
Last time I discussed the situations where an immigrant in removal proceedings could seek to terminate proceedings to avoid removal from the United States. Today I will discuss motions to administratively close proceedings. While a successful motion to terminate removal proceedings usually removes an alien from jeopardy of deportation, a…
For the poor unfortunate immigrant who finds themselves in removal proceedings, the process can be scary, confusing, and heartbreaking. Many immigrants are so intimidated by the removal process that they purposely fail to appear for court. The worst thing you can do if you are an immigrant who finds yourself…
Many non-citizens find themselves in this exact position at some point in their lives. Sometimes, they do not even know they have an order of removal or deportation until they apply for a green card or other immigration benefit. When you have an order of removal or deportation the last…
Recent Published BIA Decisions: Matter of L-G-H-, 26 I&N Dec. 365 (BIA 2014); Board held that Fla. Stat. § 893.13(1)(a)(1) (Sale/manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance or possession with intent to do so) is divisible, and may be an aggravated felony “illicit trafficking” offense under INA § 101(a)(43)(B) under certain circumstances.…