Portland DACA Lawyer
Compassionate Legal Representation and Guidance
Offices in Medford & the Portland Area
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was introduced in 2012 and
seeks to provide removal relief and limited benefits to undocumented immigrants
that entered the United States as children. The program has faced numerous
disruptions – including an outright dismantling effort in 2020 –
and continues to face new challenges.
Our Portland DACA attorney can help existing program beneficiaries obtain benefits and renew their
status. At Sarpa Law,
our immigration lawyers are compassionate to the uncertainties inherent to being undocumented and are prepared to leverage our over
15 years of legal experience to identify and implement creative and cost-effective legal solutions.
No matter your situation, we are determined to protect your life in the
United States and will work to overcome whatever challenges you face.
How DACA Works in Portland
DACA confers several significant advantages to program recipients. However,
DACA does not provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship, as beneficiaries are not eligible for green cards. They also do not have
any legal status – DACA status only prompts “deferred action.”
DACA beneficiaries are protected from removal efforts so long as their
program status remains active and they don’t have a disqualifying criminal record. They can live
and work in the United States so long as they meet certain requirements.
Program recipients can also obtain social security numbers, driver’s
licenses, and work authorizations.
DACA relief is generally issued in two-year increments, and program beneficiaries can apply to renew their DACA status indefinitely.
There have been situations in recent years where renewals have been temporarily
halted due to legal challenges. Our Portland DACA attorney can help you
navigate these scenarios.
Eligibility for DACA
The availability of DACA for certain immigrants, such as first-time applicants,
is continuously in flux and you should check with our law office for the
latest news.
Because the program has not been significantly expanded since its introduction,
only a limited number of immigrants will qualify for the DACA program.
You must provide evidence that you meet a series of eligibility requirements.
You may qualify for the DACA program if:
- You entered the United States unlawfully before turning 16
-
You have continuously lived in the U.S. since June 15th, 2007
-
You were under the age of 31 on June 15th, 2012
-
You were physically present in the United States on June 15th, 2012
-
You had no valid immigration status on June 15th, 2012
- You are physically present in the U.S. at the time you submit your DACA
application
-
You have completed high school
or earned a General Education Development (GED) diploma
or are currently enrolled in school
or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. military
- You have not been convicted of a felony, serious misdemeanor, or any combination
of three misdemeanors
- You do not pose a threat to public safety or U.S. national security
Get the skilled legal representation you need when navigating turbulent
DACA issues. Call our Medford number at
(541) 262-6677, our Portland number at
(503) 755-5587, or
contact us online today!