Whether a given immigrant would be able to legally work in the U.S. depends on many things. This includes what particular U.S. immigration programs they receive benefits through. The various visa and other immigration programs here in the U.S. vary in whether work permits are among the benefits immigrants can receive under them.
When working in the U.S. is a big goal for an immigrant, it is important for them to understand what the immigration options they are considering would mean for their eligibility for a work permit. Work permit issues are among the important issues skilled attorneys can provide immigrants with guidance on and assistance with.
Along with immigrants, employers in the U.S. can also be greatly impacted by what options for work permits are available under the U.S. immigration system. For one, it can impact what sort of talent pool employers have access to. So, changes in what work permit options are out there can have some pretty wide-ranging impacts.
One route for work permits here in the U.S. has now been scheduled to come to an end. This route is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The program was aimed individuals who were brought to the U.S. before they were 16 who met certain requirements. Along with deportation relief, work permits are among the benefits available under the program.
It was recently announced that the Trump administration has opted to rescind the program and is beginning the rolling back process. Given this, serious questions arise regarding what the future will hold for a variety of issues, including work permit eligibility issues, for participants in this program.
Major changes in the situation of DACA recipients could have the potential to have a particularly big impact here in California. Numbers from a recent analysis point to California topping all other states when it comes to DACA recipients.
Reportedly, of the initial DACA application approvals made in the U.S. between August 2012 and March 2017, around 223,000 were from California. This is by far the most from any state. It is around 100,000 more than the total from the state in the No. 2 spot, Texas.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “States With the Most DACA Applications,” Megan Trimble, Sept. 6, 2017