Press Release

AALDEF seeks pro bono attorneys to represent eligible people who qualify under the expanded DACA and the new DAPA programs. Attorneys must attend an AALDEF training in order to take a case.

The first training will be held on February 26, 2015 at 6:30 pm, at the office of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, One New York Plaza, NYC.

RSVP to mailto:jlei@aaldef.org. Light dinner will be provided.A significant number of Asian immigrants are among an estimated 300,000 additional undocumented individuals who may benefit from an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Although applications were to be accepted beginning on February 18, 2015, a Texas federal court ruling on Feb. 17 has temporarily halted the President’s executive immigration actions, including the expanded DACA and new DAPA programs. The Justice Department has announced that it will appeal this ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

DACA offers temporary relief from the threat of deportation to young people and allows them to obtain employment authorization. Last November, the Obama administration announced the expansion of DACA and the creation of a new deferred action program known as DAPA for parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, which will begin in May 2015. For many, this will be the first opportunity to legally work and live in this country.No prior legal experience is required, but pro bono counsel will be required to attend a training prior to taking a case. These cases would help support the work of RAISE, a pan-Asian undocumented youth-led group affiliated with AALDEF.

Co-sponsored by: Fried Frank Attorney of Color Affinity GroupAsian American Bar Association of New York Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New YorkMuslim Bar Association of New York South Asian Bar Association of New YorkAsian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey