The June 2012 policy, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, has led to many opportunities in the lives of undocumented young people across the United States. From being able to obtain driver licenses, to jobs, to access to in-state tuition in some states. However, many of these young people could argue that the most valued benefit has been Advanced Parole. However, Advanced Parole is not a benefit commonly known about.
Advanced Parole is special permission obtained through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which can be requested by filing an I-131 form. Advanced Parole is a possibility for DACA recipients for humanitarian, education, or employment purposes.
During the last two years, several DACA recipients have been able to successfully travel abroad and return to the U.S. with their loved ones. Stories have been shared about traveling to Europe for education purposes, to South Korea for humanitarian purposes, and to Colombia for employment purposes. However, the most recent and notable Advanced Parole approvals, due to the number of people approved to travel as a group, are a group of 42 DREAMers from across the U.S. who recently returned from a book release in Mexico City for ‘Los Otros Dreamers’.
Each day, one, or several of the DREAMers share what it felt like to return to the country that saw them be born, or what it was like to see their grandparents after more than 20 years, or their parents after nearly a decade.
Not all of the DREAMers currently in Mexico are Mexican, but this has been the closest they have all been to their roots in 10 or more years. DACA may not be a solution to the U.S. governments’ lack of immigration reform action, but it sure has allowed for opportunity and growth in a population that has much to offer.
Upon their return to the U.S., the group of DREAMers decided to go through Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revision together. They felt that their journey needed to be completed together. They are all now safe and back in the U.S. with their loved ones.
Had it not been for DACA, the experiences of these 42 DREAMers, as well as others in the past two years, would not have been possible.
The benefits of DACA are several and it is important to know how each benefit works and if a benefit is right for you. If you’re contemplating in applying for Advanced Parole, make sure to research all the pros and cons in your particular case. Remember that each case is different.
