Are DREAMers at Risk?

What will happen to the more than 75,000 DREAMers currently protected under Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program? This question has been at the forefront of our minds since President Trump took office. But so far the program remains unchanged.

                                                           Photo Courtesy of Outloud Media, Jeff Toppings, Reuters

News stories have flooded our screens with the arrests of current DACA holders, but these individuals have either committed crimes or ICE has found grounds for termination of their DACA status. Take the DREAMer that was taken by ICE in Portland, Oregon. Last December, he was arrested for DUI. The DACA program clearly states that an individual is not eligible if they have been convicted of driving under the influence. Check eligibility guidelines here.

Also consider Ramirez, a DREAMer arrested in Washington and being held without bail in Seattle. ICE agents are claiming that Ramirez admitted to being a gang member. The DACA program states that individuals with gang membership are a threat to public safety and not eligible. Ramirez’s defense attorneys contest the allegation, claiming there is no basis for Ramirez’s detention. The outcome of these cases remains to be seen.

The detention of DREAMers raises concerns over whether ICE is targeting these individuals despite their deferred action status. Yet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to accept and approve DACA applications.

If you have questions about your eligibility for DACA, speak with an experienced immigration attorney.

Lauren Wallis is an immigration attorney at Brewer & Lormand, PLLC. She works out of the firm’s Dallas office and defends individuals against deportation before the Immigration Court in Dallas, Texas. She also handles SIJS, VAWA, U Visas, Military PIP, Applications for Residency, Citizenship, Adjustments of Status, Consular Processing, DACA, TPS, and Asylum.

This article is intended for educational purposes only. Nothing in this article is intended to be construed as legal advice and should be relied on as such.