Ten years after it was created by the Obama Administration on July 15, 2012, the future of the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is uncertain. Delayed by court challenges and lack of progress toward a legislative solution by a gridlocked U.S. Congress, the next chapter of DACA's history may wait until after a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing set for July 2022. In July 2021, Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas blocked new applications for the DACA program, which provides temporary protection from deportation and temporary work permits for certain undocumented migrants who entered the U.S. as children. Despite multiple attempts at legislative compromise, Congress has so far failed to act.

Read from ABC News, DACA's 10th anniversary: Recipients call for congressional action as immigration reform remains stalled

Read from The New York Times, A Decade After DACA, the Rise of a New Generation of Undocumented Students

Read from The Hill, DACA turns 10 with 'Dreamers' no closer to solid ground

Read from Roll Call, Future of DACA program remains uncertain, a decade after it began

Read from The Hill, Around 100,000 'Dreamers' to graduate without shot at work permits

The U.S. House and U.S. Senate are working on differing proposals for a potential bipartisan immigration law bill that could pass before December 2022. House proposals include: (1) provisions to promote innovation and facilitate immigration by researchers, scientists and engineers and (2) a pathway to permanent residence for "Dreamers" (undocumented migrants who entered the U.S. as children). The U.S. Senate proposals are more focused on border security and increases in agricultural workers visas.

Read from Roll Call, Prospects dim for quick deal on Senate immigration proposals

Read from Science, Democrats lobby for high-tech immigration reforms in innovation bill before Congress

Read from Yahoo, Google exec: Resolving green card backlog 'absolutely critical' to maintaining US tech leadership

On June 1, 2022, the Congressional Research Service (a part of the U.S. Congress) published a newly updated guide to USCIS procedures, including applications for work authorization, visa petitions and "green cards". This is a concise and useful summary of the USCIS system including options for Administrative Appeals and Judicial Review.

Read from Congressional Research Service (CRS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Authorities and Procedures

Scott Borene named 2022

in Immigration Law, Minneapolis by

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Tip of the Month

On June 16, 2022, USCIS announced that due to a carryover of unused immigrant visas from FY 2021 to FY 2022, approximately 140,000 extra employment-based green cards may be issued between now and September 30, 2022. Anyone eligible is urged to file now.

Read from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fiscal Year 2022 Employment-Based Adjustment of Status FAQs