Oak Lawn Immigration Attorney | Dream Act

THE LAW OFFICE OF JONATHAN W. COLE WELCOMES DEFERRED ACTION ANNOUNCEMENT, WARN OF POTENTIAL FRAUD BY SO-CALLED "NOTARIOS"

OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS - THE LAW OFFICE OF JONATHAN W. COLE welcomed the Administration's recent announcement that younger immigrants may be eligible for "Deferred Action" and work authorization. The policy will grant qualified immigrants the opportunity to live free from fear of deportation and allow them to work legally. This exciting new development brings hope to immigrants and their families. It is not, however, a permanent fix and does not grant permanent legal status to anyone.

To qualify, an individual must:

• have arrived in the U.S. when they were under the age of sixteen;
• have continuously resided in the U.S. for at least five years prior to June 15, 2012 and have been present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012;
• currently be in school, have graduated from high school, have a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces;
• not have been convicted of a felony offense, a "significant misdemeanor offense," three or more non-significant misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety; and
• have been under thirty-one years old on June 15, 2012

The deferred action offer will be available to those in proceedings, those with final removal orders, as well as to those who apply affirmatively.

The Administration is not yet accepting applications for this action. Within sixty days - by the middle of August - the Administration expects to issue guidance and information about how eligible individuals can request deferred action and work authorization.

Unfortunately, this policy may open the door for fraud and deception by so-called "Notarios." In the United States, notarios have no legal background and cannot legally practice law or represent you. Anyone claiming they can submit an application or charging a fee for applying for deferred action should NOT be trusted until the process has been announced by the federal government. An immigrant's case can be delayed by notarios acting in bad faith, resulting in penalties and even deportation.

For more information, contact your the Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole at jwcolelaw.com or 708-529-7794.

Oak Lawn Immigration Attorney | Cook County may not report Immigrants to the Feds!

The Chicago Tribune has reported that the Cook County Board of Commissioners have recently passed an ordinance that would allow illegal immigrants in jail on misdemeanor charges to be released despite federal requests to have them detained for deportation. A recent federal ruling in determined Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers are voluntary requests, not mandatory. It applies to anyone arrested on misdemeanor charges who normally would be released from custody.

This is not a free pass for immigrants to commit misdemeanors, but merely one step for immigrants who would like to remain with their families. It is important for any immigrant, who has been arrested, to contact both a Criminal Law Attorney and an Immigration Law Attorney. Both attorneys are needed because there will be potential issues in both fields from an incident of illegal activity. If you would like immigration advice from an attorney, contact:

The Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole
5013 W. 95th St.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 529-7794