I’m sorry to be focusing all my blogs on DACA, but it’s important enough not just to the DACA members, aka Dreamers, but other groups of immigrants as well.
Right now, the DACA members have the most political power because they have more public support than any other immigrant group. Probably all 49 Democratic senators and 20-25 Republican senators support legislation that would give legal status to DACA members, leaving just a minority of Republican senators against DACA.
John Cornyn, one of the two Texas senators, has shown support for legislation protecting the Dreamers. Unfortunately, Ted Cruz is one of the few senators still against DACA, so I urge you to call or email his office to tell him to support the Dream Act. I don’t believe that he will support DACA, but I do believe that if enough pressure is applied, he will not do anything to hold up the other 70-75 senators from passing relief for them.
Ted Cruz’s office can be contacted here, or by calling (202) 224-5922.
TPS Update For Honduras And Nicaragua
The Department of Homeland Security extended TPS for Hondurans, which normally would be good news, but in this case, they extended it only until July 5, 2018. I believe there is a good chance that the DHS will not renew TPS for Honduras past July 5, 2018. There is no way of knowing what they will do, so I recommend that everyone with TPS from Honduras apply for the extension.
Applications for the extension must be received by February 13, 2018. It normally takes the USCIS a few months to issue a new work permit, so the new permits won’t arrive until April or May 2018, which doesn’t give applicants that much time. However, I believe that once the DACA issue is settled, there will be a lot of political pressure on Congress to find a way to legalize TPS holders from Honduras and El Salvador who have had TPS now for 16 or 18 years.
Back in 1995, Congress passed NACARA to deal with asylum applicants from Central America who had been in the United States for more than 10 years, so I believe there is a good chance that TPS will get an opportunity from Congress to fix their legal status. But people that have allowed their TPS might not be included in the final group that gets a chance to fix their status, which is why I recommend that everyone keep their TPS up to date.
I expect next summer will be the best opportunity to get Congress to pass something for TPS holders. I believe an arrangement can be worked out for all TPS holders, but with Trump in office, nothing is certain because he could be removed from office by next summer and there’s no way of knowing what the political landscape will look like in the next 6 months.
Please call Senator Ted Cruz about DACA, because I believe the next 2 weeks are the best chance of passing legislation to protect the Dreamers.
Everyone have a safe and Merry Christmas, and as always, feel free to reach out to the Juan DeKruyff office with any immigration law questions.