Centro Legal is responding to our community’s need by offering legal services to individuals qualifying for the new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

According to the guidelines distributed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an individual may qualify for deferred action if they:

1.  Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;

2.  Came to the United States before reaching their 16th birthday;

3.  Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;

4.  Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making a request for consideration of deferred action;

5.  Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or their lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;

6.  Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

7.  Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

For more information on who qualifies, and what evidence is necessary, please visit: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD 

Centro Legal will hold weekly clinics for applicants throughout the months of September and October. Eligible applicants will receive representation for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications. Before accepting any case for representation, our attorneys will consult individually with each applicant to determine eligibility. Please call Centro legal at (510) 437-1554 ext. 114 to schedule an appointment or obtain more information about our services.

Centro Legal strongly cautions interested individuals to refrain from seeking assistance from public notaries, so-called notarios, or other individuals who are not licensed to practice immigration law, in order to avoid any unnecessary complications. The best course of action is to contact a reputable immigration service provider for legal advice and representation in your case.

Upcoming Deferred Action Community Events

On August 23, Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) will hold a deferred action event at the Cesar Chavez Learning Center, 2825 International Blvd. in Oakland. Registration will start at 5:30pm. For more information, please call (510) 459-8696 or click here for a bilingual flyer.

On September 29, Centro Legal will hold a deferred action workshop. The location has yet to be been determined. For more information, please call 510-437-1554 ext.114.