Illinois Immigration Amnesty Attorneys

The Development, Relief and Education for Minors (DREAM) Act. Representing Individuals Who Entered the United States Illegally Before the Age of 16.

Many undocumented individuals who are in the United States entered the U.S. when they were young children under the age of 16. The DREAM Act, if passed by Congress, will allow undocumented immigrants to enter a path which will result in them obtaining Green-card status. In order to qualify for the DREAM Act, when it is passed by congress, applicants will have to meet the following requirements:

• Establish that the applicant entered the United States before he/she was 16 years old
• Prove that the applicant has resided in the United States for at least five consecutive years since the date he/she entered the United States
• Establish that the applicant’s age is between 12 and 35 years old at the time the law goes into effect
• Provide proof that the applicant graduated from a U.S. high school or has attained a Graduate Equivalent Degree (GED)
• Establish the applicant’s good moral character

Representing Undocumented Aliens for Guest Worker Status

An estimated 12 to 15 million people are living in the United States without a valid visa or green card. A clash of political ideals, have stymied efforts by the U.S. government to address the problem. Meanwhile, millions of families, individuals, and employers are in flux.

For example, an illegal alien who marries a U.S. citizen and has children in this country, faces the possibility of not only deportation but a 10-year ban on re-entering the U.S. Similar scenarios of hardship and difficult decisions regarding children and marriages play out every day in America. An amnesty or legalization program, as proposed by President Bush and others, would enable workers who are here illegally to remain in the U.S. under certain conditions.

Guest Worker Program

Former President Bush previously proposed the implementation of a Guest Worker Program; also known as the Temporary Worker Program (TWP). Under this program, a specified number of foreign workers would be admitted to the United States each year to perform employment in a program to match willing workers with willing U.S. employers. Foreign national workers would be admitted to the U.S. as Guest Workers with the possibility of obtaining permanent residence (green card) status.  President Obama and Congress are currently reviewing these proposals in order to enact them into law.

Amnesty and Legalization

Former President Bush also proposed the implementation of a Legalization Program which has been referred to by many people as a program to grant undocumented workers Amnesty. If this program becomes law under President Obama, men and women who are presently undocumented (illegally) in the United States and who will have been in the U.S. for a certain period of time would be able to remain and work in the U.S., and receive permanent resident status (green cards) after working in the U.S. for an additional number of years.

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Under this proposed legislation, those individuals who have been in the U.S. for less than a certain number of years, but were present in the U.S. as of a certain date, could receive temporary work visas for three years.  They would need to depart and re-enter the U.S. following the three-year period as either a Guest Worker or under another existing visa program. Under this legalization program, these individuals would also be placed on a path where they could obtain permanent resident status.

The Shapiro Law Group stays abreast of all developments in immigration law, including Congressional progress toward an “amnesty” or “guest worker” program for illegal aliens. We will immediately provide information on our website as soon as President Obama signs legislation regarding undocumented workers and their families obtaining legal status within the United States.

Our lawyers will monitor any developments in the guest worker amnesty debate and post them in this space.

• On the one hand some argue that an amnesty is needed. They cite the monumental task of rounding up and deporting millions of people who have entered the United States illegally. Many people also believe it would be immoral to send people back after establishing ties, building families, and contributing to the American economy.
• The other argument is that allowing undocumented workers to stay is unfair to lawful citizens and residents, as well as other foreign nationals who wait years for a visa to legally enter the U.S.

We invite you visit this page regularly for news about the issue and the tremendous repercussions it will have for illegal immigrants and undocumented aliens. The Shapiro Law Group assists with all family-based and employment-based immigration needs. Ronald Shapiro has practiced in immigration law for more than 30 years, serving clients nationwide. Contact our Chicago, Illinois firm today for a free phone consultation.