Undocumented Immigrants Line Up to Legally Stay In U.S.
On Wednesday the federal government began allowing certain young undocumented immigrants who came to America as children to apply for the right to legally stay and work in the U.S. This Obama administration program, formally known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, has been a controversial change in immigration policy.
According to NBC News, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are now accepting applications for consideration of “deferred action” which is a two year reprieve from any threat of deportation, with the possibility of renewal.
“DREAM Relief Day” activities have been scheduled across the country to help immigrants apply for the reprieve and get work permits.
In New York City, more than 1,000 young people and their families showed up for a workshop and legal clinic at St. Mary’s Church.
One an individual’s application is received, the data is logged and the person gets a receipt number. The applicant must also go to an application support center to be fingerprinted and photographed. There is also a background check.
The Migration Institute and the Pew Hispanic Center estimate that as many as 1.7 million undocumented immigrants could be eligible to apply under the program.
U.S. immigration laws can actually be stricter for Thais since many marry Americans and the Immigration Bureau must make sure the marriage was not simply a ticket to the U.S. For Thai-American couples wishing to come to the U.S. it may be easier to marry in the U.S. then apply for the appropriate visa.
