Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Pro Bono Training
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA)
Pro Bono Training
An estimated 100,000 undocumented Asian immigrants are eligible for “Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals” (DACA). A new Department of Homeland Security directive, DACA gives eligible undocumented youth a two-year pause from the threat of deportation and an opportunity to secure a work permit. For many, this will be the first opportunity to legally work and live in this country.
Many of these immigrants are from the communities served by the various Asian bar associations of New York. Taking on a DACA case pro bono is a discrete way to learn basic immigration law and impact the life of undocumented youth.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is seeking pro bono counsel to represent eligible young people applying for DACA. No prior legal experience is required, but pro bono counsel will be required to attend a training prior to taking a case. These cases will help support the work of AALDEF’s youth group for undocumented Asian Americans.
If you are interested in taking a DACA case through AALDEF, please join us for the training on:
Wednesday, September 5 from 6pm-7pm
at O’Melveny & Myers, 7 Times Square
To register for the training, please email AALDEF at: [email protected]
For more information about what this new directive means for Asian American communities, see our legal alert.
Generously Co-sponsored by:
Asian American Bar Association of New York
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
Muslim Bar Association of New York
Muslim Bar Association of New York
South Asian Bar Association of New York
Important Information – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
From NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I’m sure you’ve heard about President Obama’s new program for undocumented youth, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The following message and attached documents outline vital information about this new initiative.
Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a new federal immigration process that allows certain undocumented young people to request temporary deportation relief and work authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The City estimates that 50,000 to 60,000 New Yorkers may be able to request deferred action.
In order to show that they meet the criteria, Deferred Action applicants will need to submit verifiable documentation to the federal government with their applications. They may be able to get some of the documents they need from City agencies. Attached is a one-page flyer that highlights the types of documents the City can provide to individuals who have records on file, along with instructions on how to access those documents. I have also attached flyers in English and Spanish created by USCIS to show the eligibility criteria and application process.
Please note: unlike the DREAM Act, Deferred Action is not legal status, and it does not provide a pathway to obtaining a green card or citizenship. For more information about Deferred Action, including where to find free legal assistance and how to avoid and report immigration scams, please call 311 or visit NYC.gov.
All the best,
Sarah
Sarah Flatto | One NYC One Nation Coordinator | NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
212-341-9075 | 646-409-3116 |nyc.gov/immigrants | *[email protected]