CONGRESSMAN RUBÉN HINOJOSA SUPPORTS DREAM Act STUDENTS AT NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

 (Why DREAM Act students should apply for President Obama's deferred action policy)

(Congressional Members also warn DREAM Act students to avoid scammers who offer to help them apply for a fee)

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX-15) stood with several members of  the U.S. Congress today and spoke about why DREAM Act students should apply for President Obama's deferred action policy and why DREAM  Act students should be put on a path to U.S. citizenship.

"As a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, I believe that ultimately we need to address every aspect of our nation's broken immigration policies if we are to solve the problem," said U.S. Rep. Hinojosa. "In my border district, we understand that there are undocumented immigrants who contribute to our economy and to our nation as a whole. In my view DREAM Act students must be given the opportunity to contribute their talent to our nation's economy, workforce, and civic life."

DREAM Act students who want to apply for the deferred action policy may begin to do so on August 15, 2012. Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action and will not face deportation for a period of two years, subject to renewal.

These are the Requirements:

Youths must meet five criteria to qualify for deferred action:

They must have come to the US before they turned 16;

They must have been born after June 15, 1981;

They must have continuously resided in the US since June 15, 2007, and must have been present in the US on June 15, 2012;

They must currently be in school, have received a high school diploma or GED, or been honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces or the Coast Guard;

They must not have been convicted of a felony, a “significant misdemeanor,” multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.  Anyone applying for deferred action would need to go through a criminal background check.

"The Administration and Congress must work to implement President Obama's deferred action policy in a comprehensive and humane manner and put DREAM Act students on a path to citizenship by passing the DREAM Act," said U.S. Rep. Hinojosa.

Several events will be held in the 15th Congressional District of Texas in conjunction with non-profit organizations to offer assistance to DREAM Act students who want to apply for deferred action. The dates, places and times will be forthcoming.

For more information in English and in Spanish please click on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security link below:

DHS Dreamers Deferred Action Process

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