Where do you get your immigration information?
In my office, our phones ring a lot after immigration stories on Univision or after radio shows about immigration matters. People are calling to check out what they heard about Temporary Protected Status, or travel restrictions, or what President Trump is doing this week. It is good to be informed and pay attention to changes in the law. It is also an excellent practice to check things out and not believe everything you hear on t.v. or read on the internet.
The most recent uproar that came to our attention was the announcement that people who are here in Temporary Protected Status (TPS) can apply for permanent resident status. Well, unfortunately, that is just not the case for most people on TPS, unless they meet criteria for another type of status. The Trump Administration has announced termination of the TPS program for Nicaragua, Haiti, and Sudan – and other countries are sure to follow. So it is time to get informed.
If you, or someone you know, are in TPS status or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), now is the time to start looking for other ways to remain legal in the U.S. It would be great if Congress would provide a way for TPS beneficiaries to obtain permanent legal status or if Congress would pass the 2017 DREAM ACT, but that is going to take some loud, persistent advocacy. It IS important for you to obtain competent and complete advice, because when you are not fully informed, you are more likely to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous lawyers or notaries, or simply fall victim to mistakes.
