CHRISTINA REYES NAVARRO

IMMIGRATION: November 20, 2014 Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action For Parental Accountablility(DAPA)

On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization.

Anyone requesting consideration for deferred action under this process must have been under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012. You must also be at least 15 years or older to request deferred action, unless you are currently in removal proceedings or have a final removal or voluntary departure order. Individuals who receive deferred action will not be placed into removal proceedings or removed from the United States for a specified period of time unless terminated.

However, on November 20, 2014, President Obama signed into Executive Order that DACA is now extended to individuals older than 32 years old as long as they qualify under the original guidelines of DACA.    

There are also new deferred actions to parents of US citizens and permanent residents as well as spouse and children.   

If you would like further information and/or legal representation, please contact the Law Offices of Christina Reyes Navarro at (855) 377-7669 or (562) 216-8294.

FAMILY LAW: Divorce & Custody

IMMIGRATION : Gay & Lesbian Petitions

The gay rights movement saw a significant victory at the Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling in United States v. Windsor, when the court struck down a provision of the 17-year-old Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that denies federal benefits - like Social Security benefits or the ability to file joint tax returns - to same-sex couples legally married.

At the same time, the court ruled 5-4 that the defendants in the case of  Hollingsworth v. Perry, which considered the constitutionality of California’s same-sex marriage ban (called Proposition 8), have no standing in court.

While limited in impact, the Supreme Court’s foray into the subject of same-sex marriage reflects the American public’s growing acceptance of same-sex marriage.

If you would like further information and/or legal representation, please contact the Law Offices of Christina Reyes Navarro at (855) 377-7669 or (562) 216-8294.