Essential Resources for Your Journey

The United States Supreme Court delivered a pivotal decision favoring recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Court determined that the administration's 2017 attempt to terminate DACA violated proper administrative procedures. This represents a significant victory for immigrant communities and advocates who mobilized to protect the program.

While this ruling provides important protections, it's crucial to understand that administrative attempts to end the program could be renewed through proper channels. Only congressional legislation can provide permanent pathways to lawful residence and citizenship. Comprehensive reform remains essential for DACA recipients, TPS holders, and all individuals facing deportation risks.

Since its establishment in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has encountered numerous challenges and undergone substantial changes. This comprehensive toolkit was developed to educate DACA recipients about their legal protections and to guide community members in providing meaningful support during uncertain times.

The first section provides context about the program and its current status amid ongoing federal litigation. The second section offers practical guidance on renewal procedures and alternative pathways to explore. The final section outlines advocacy opportunities to protect immigrant communities through collective action.

This practical guide walks you through the process of requesting your criminal history records from federal and state law enforcement agencies. Understanding your background check results is an important step in many immigration applications.

Freedom of Information Act requests can be invaluable tools in immigration matters, helping individuals and their representatives access critical documentation. This guide provides detailed instructions for submitting FOIA requests to USCIS, ICE, OBIM, and CBP. It includes step-by-step instructions for completing Form G-639, along with information about alternative submission methods available through online portals.

Recent policy proposals threaten to restrict fee waiver access for individuals with limited financial resources, potentially preventing eligible applicants from pursuing immigration benefits. This advisory outlines the proposed modifications to the current system and provides practical guidance for advocates working to oppose these harmful changes while supporting clients with financial constraints.

Following Supreme Court decisions in January and February 2026, the Department of Homeland Security implemented revised public charge regulations. The DHS rule took effect for adjustment of status applications filed on or after February 24, 2026. The Department of State also implemented corresponding rules for consular processing interviews conducted on or after that date.

We are actively updating our materials to reflect current DHS and DOS public charge regulations. Please check the publication date when reviewing resources, as legal content may not reflect the most recent policy developments.

It's essential to understand that immigration law provides numerous exemptions from public charge inadmissibility. Many immigration categories and forms of relief are not subject to public charge evaluation. This advisory explains which applicants are exempt from these requirements and discusses the types of status applications that do not involve public charge assessments. It also addresses considerations for individuals who previously held status not subject to public charge but are now pursuing adjustment or consular processing through family or employment petitions.

This resource outlines practical steps for DACA renewal applicants experiencing processing delays, helping you understand your options and take appropriate action.

This comprehensive toolkit was designed to help undocumented individuals and mixed-status families understand the immigration legal landscape and develop personalized plans for navigating this complex system. This resource-rich document provides accessible information on multiple topics including: your rights during immigration enforcement encounters, various immigration relief options available, guidance for building your consultation strategy, and recommendations for protecting yourself while waiting for relief. This thirteen-page resource includes links to additional reference materials, fact sheets, and planning tools you can use to create your own roadmap forward.

Spanish language version coming soon!

This guide is designed for individuals whose DACA status expired after September 5, 2016 and who are preparing to file a "renewal" application. The guide includes annotated versions of Forms I-821D, I-765, and I-765ws that together constitute a complete renewal packet. If your DACA expired on or before September 5, 2016 or was terminated, you will need to file a "renewal-initial" application. This type of application requires additional documentation beyond what is covered in this guide.

Two significant developments have affected litigation challenging the administration's attempt to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. First, on November 5, 2024, the government filed three petitions with the U.S. Supreme Court through an unusual procedural mechanism known as "certiorari before judgment," requesting immediate review of all three district court decisions requiring partial continuation of DACA. Second, on November 8, 2024, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion upholding the preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California—one of three court orders mandating continued DACA processing.