Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has announced
that DHS will implement a program for granting "deferred
action" to undocumented youth, decided on a case-by-case
basis, to those who meet the eligibility requirements. The program
covers most immigrants who would qualify under the Obama
administration's stalled Development, Relief, and Education for
Alien Minors (DREAM) Act which would provide immigrants who came to
the U.S. as children a pathway to permanent citizenship if passed
into law.
The program is intended to help undocumented young people who
were brought to the United States as infants or children. To be
eligible, an individual must have arrived to the U.S. under the age
of 16 and must be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012. Further,
applicants must have continuously resided in the U.S. for at least
five years, have a high school diploma or G.E.D., or otherwise,
must currently be enrolled in school or have been honorably
discharged from
