Immigration Green Cards: Review of Low Priority Cases for Prosecutorial Discretion

Reprinted from Legal Action Center Immigration Green
Cards: Review of Low Priority Cases for Prosecutorial Discretion
Cautionary Note: Up to now, there is still very little official
information or direction published by DHS/USCIS. The below is not
meant to imply AMNESTY, nor does the LAC believe it will halt or
stop individuals who violate immigration laws from being placed in
removal proceedings. History: On August 18, the Obama
Administration and DHS announced the establishment of a high-level
joint Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-Department of Justice
(DOJ) working group charged with ensuring that DHS and DOJ
resources are focused on the highest immigration enforcement
priorities, namely, national security, public safety, border
security and the integrity of our immigration system. See
Napolitano Letter and Backgrounder. The working group will conduct
a case-by-case review of the approximately 300,000 cases currently
pending before the immigration courts, the BIA and federal courts
of appeals. Those removal cases that are identified as low priority
will be administratively closed and the respondents will be
eligible to apply for work authorization with USCIS. The working
group will also initiate a case-by-case review to ensure that new
cases placed in removal proceedings meet DHSs enforcement
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