There is a segment of the population that may be subject to possible deportation through no direct fault of their own. Many children were brought to the United States illegally, and some of them are not even aware they are here illegally until a legal issue arises or they apply for certain documents. Maryland readers may be interested in the story of a college student who is avoiding deportation for now, based on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act.
The student is a college sophomore who came to the United States when he was 4 years old. The student has a 3.8 GPA and plans to go to law school. He was granted a two year reprieve thanks to qualifying under the DACA.
Qualifying to stay under the Act requires meeting certain criteria. The person applying to stay must have brought to this country before they were 16 years old. They must be a student, have a diploma or GED or be a veteran who was discharged honorably. In addition, they must not have a felony conviction, a misdemeanor conviction that is deemed serious or at least three misdemeanor convictions regardless of type.
The deportation process and even the possibility of deportation can be confusing and certainly provoke fear and intimidation. Anyone in Maryland who is concerned about their status and whether they may qualify to stay under DACA or for another reason may benefit by seeking more information. The student at the center of this story turned to legal professionals to help him apply and for help understanding the renewal process. The more information a person has about the current immigration laws and procedures, the more prepared they may be to face any challenges to their status, including a possible deportation.
Source: santacruzsentinel.com, “Law students, lawyers help UC Santa Cruz students avoid deportation“, Kara Guzman, Oct. 18, 2014