Bailey & Galyen Immigration Attorney Talks About DACA and ICE
Attorney Katherine “Katie” Hawkins, an immigration lawyer, talked recently with host Keith Spencer of The Legal Hour, touching on a wide range of issues, including the status of DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy) and the presence of ICE at immigration offices.
A 2018 graduate of the Texas A&M University School of Law, Katie worked as an elementary school teacher before pursuing a legal career. At Bailey & Galyen, she handles a wide range of issues, including family-based immigration, U-visas, naturalization applications, appeals, and visa and asylum issues related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
In her appearance on The Legal Hour, Hawkins stressed that, while many of the protections afforded by DACA are uncertain right now, nothing has actually changed. Even though initial DACA applications have not been adjudicated since 2021, individuals with DACA status that is about to expire should nonetheless file for a renewal.
The Texas Attorney General has challenged DACA, saying that it’s affected employment opportunities for U.S. citizens in Texas, but that lawsuit appears to be far from resolution. Hawkins also noted that, because most immigration proceedings are funded by filing fees, the recent government shutdown had little to no impact on DACA renewals.
Hawkins warned that anyone involved in immigration proceedings, whether directly with ICE or with USCIS, can expect to see a more concentrated presence of ICE personnel when they go to appointments or immigration offices. She suggested that individuals take medical records with them and always have the name and phone number of an immigration attorney, in case they need immediate legal counsel.
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