Charleston DACA Lawyer

BACKED BY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Created in 2012 by the Obama Administration, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) helps people who arrived in the U.S. as children remain here legally as adults.

Not sure if you're eligible for DACA? Maghzi Law Firm LLC is happy to assist by reviewing your application before it's sent off to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Pursue Deferred Action & Work Authorization With Us

In 2012, the Obama-Biden administration decided to exercise prosecutorial discretion when applying our nation’s immigration laws to certain young people. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offered deferred action and work authorization to individuals who were brought to the United States as children using the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Since then, people who request or receive deferred action under the program have been known as Dreamers, a play on another Obama-era proposal called the DREAM Act (DREAM stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Immigrant Minors).

During the Trump administration, the national outlook on immigration changed dramatically, and the DACA program suffered years of attacks, starting in 2017. By December 4, 2020, however, federal courts were able to restore DACA to its original form.

On January 20, 2021, the Biden-Harris administration recommitted to DACA, meaning now is a better time than ever to become a Dreamer.

If you want to request deferred action and work authorization documents under DACA, Maghzi Law Firm LLC can help. We go above and beyond for our clients, and our founding attorney is an immigrant herself.

• Related Blog: President Biden Preserves DACA on First Day

For a legal team that understands, call us at (843) 800-2750 or contact us online. We speak Spanish, Portuguese, and Farsi.

Am I Eligible for DACA?

DACA was designed for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, have obeyed the law, and stayed in school or enlisted in the military. The program covers individuals who arrived in the United States before their 16^th birthday and were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.

To be eligible for DACA, you must have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time (including June 15, 2012), and you must be physically present in the U.S. when you request deferred action. You can only request deferred action under DACA if you are currently in school, have a certificate of completion from high school, have a GED, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. military.

You are not eligible for deferred action if you have been convicted of a felony or a significant misdemeanor nor if you have been convicted of 3 or more other misdemeanors.

How to Request Deferred Action

The DACA program is currently accepting first-time requests for the first time since September 5, 2017. If you meet the eligibility requirements (see above), you will need to collect your proof of identity, proof you came to the United States before your 16^th birthday, proof of immigration status, proof of presence and continuous residence in the U.S., and proof of your student or veteran status at the time of requesting DACA.

In addition to collecting documents, you will need to fill out multiple forms, undergo biographic and biometric background checks, and pay a $495 filing fee (subject to increase).

Before you send your request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), be sure to have a local DACA lawyer review your paperwork.