FAQ on Immigration

What is DACA?

DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and was an executive order that was signed by President Obama that deferred deportation for people who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents prior to 2007.

What is chain migration?

Chain migration is when a citizen or legal immigrant petitions for a foreign family member to be allowed into the United States as a permanent resident.

What is the diversity visa lottery program or green card lottery program?

The diversity visa lottery program awards green cards to immigrants from nations that send comparatively fewer people to the United States each year that other nations. The program was created in 1990, and critics say the program does not do enough to accept immigrants to the United States based on merit.

What is the biometric entry-exit system?

A biometric entry-exit system would require photo or fingerprint identification upon entrance and exit of the United States in an effort to track immigrants coming and going from the United States. This would increase the ability to track immigrants and know when they have overstayed their visas. Keep in mind, estimates suggest that up to 40 percent of illegal immigrants are people who came here legally, with a visa, but who have overstayed their visas. Our government currently has no means to track them.

What is amnesty?

Amnesty is essentially the forgiveness or pardoning of someone who has committed a crime. When referred to with regard to immigration, it is usually in reference to an immigrant who has broken immigration laws to come to and/or stay in the United States.

What is a sanctuary city?

A sanctuary city is a city or municipality that has declared its determination to ignore federal immigration laws and refuse to work in cooperation with federal immigration authorities to enforce our immigration laws, so that people who are in violation of federal laws can seek asylum within the limits of the city.

What is Kate’s law?

Kate’s law is a law named after Kate Steinle, who was killed in a 2015 attack by an illegal immigrant in San Francisco. The law seeks to enforce tougher penalties on people who reenter the United States illegally.

What is a ‘visa overstay?’

A ‘visa overstay’ is when a legal immigrant – someone who is in the United States on some form of visa – stays longer than the period in which they were granted with their visa. A legal immigrant who overstays his or her visa without renewal is breaking the law and therefore becomes an illegal immigrant.

What is E-Verify?

E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from your Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Social Security Administration (SSA), and Department of State (DOS) records to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.