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Schedule a consultation →DACA & DREAMERS
This is the only country you call home.
You were brought here as a child, you grew up here, and your life is here, but your status has never felt settled, and the news never stops changing. As a DACA lawyer, our job is to give you something steadier than headlines: an honest read on where the program stands right now, help keeping your protection and work permit current, and a clear look at whether any longer-term path is open to you. We work with Dreamers from our offices in Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Atlanta, in the language your family actually speaks.
THE BASICS
DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It is a policy that lets certain people who were brought to the United States as children ask the government to hold off (to "defer action") on removing them for a renewable period, and to grant work authorization while that protection is in place. It was created in 2012 for people who, through no decision of their own, grew up in this country without permanent status.
It is important to be precise about what this is, because a lot of hope and a lot of misunderstanding surround the word. DACA is not a visa. It is not a green card. It does not, by itself, lead to citizenship. It is a temporary, renewable form of protection from deportation, paired with a work permit: nothing more and nothing less. Understanding that clearly is not discouraging; it is what lets you make good decisions instead of waiting for something DACA was never designed to give.
Protection from removal for a renewable period (deferred action)
Eligibility for work authorization (an EAD work permit)
A Social Security number and, in most states, the ability to work legally
In some cases, eligibility to apply for advance parole to travel
A green card or lawful permanent residence
A direct path to US citizenship by itself
Any permanent or guaranteed status
Protection that continues automatically without timely renewals
WHERE THE PROGRAM STANDS
One of the most important things to understand today is that renewing DACA and applying for it for the first time are in very different positions. For years, DACA has been tied up in litigation, and courts have drawn a distinction between people who already have DACA and people who have never had it. Through much of that litigation, existing DACA recipients have generally been able to renew their protection and work authorization, while the government has been limited in granting brand-new, initial requests to people applying for the first time.
That is exactly why current, accurate advice matters more here than in almost any other area. The rules can shift with a single court ruling, and what is true this month may not be true next month. If you already have DACA, the priority is usually keeping it current without a gap. If you have never had DACA, whether you can apply at all depends on where the litigation stands right now, which is a question to ask an attorney, not to guess from a year-old article online.
DACA's rules are set by ongoing court decisions and can change quickly. Before you rely on anything about who can apply or renew, confirm the current status with an attorney. This is a moving target.
WORK AUTHORIZATION
For most Dreamers, the work permit is the part of DACA that touches daily life most directly. Approved recipients can apply for an Employment Authorization Document, an EAD card, that lets them work legally, get a Social Security number, and in most states obtain a driver's license. For someone building a career, supporting a family, or paying for school, that authorization is not an abstraction; it is the difference between stability and improvising.
The risk that trips people up is timing. Your protection and your work permit have expiration dates, and they do not renew themselves. As a DACA renewal attorney, one of the most valuable things we do is simple and unglamorous: track your dates and file your renewal early enough that you never have a lapse. A gap in your EAD can mean losing a job or an offer, even when you were always eligible. The government generally recommends filing renewals well before expiration, and there is rarely a good reason to cut it close.
File your DACA renewal months before your current EAD expires, not weeks. A lapse in work authorization can cost you a job even when you remain eligible.
TRAVEL
Traveling outside the United States as a DACA recipient is not something to do casually, but in some cases it can be genuinely valuable, and not only for the trip itself. Advance parole is permission, requested in advance, to leave the country and be allowed back in for a specific approved reason, typically humanitarian, educational, or employment purposes. Leaving without it can put your protection and your ability to return at serious risk.
Here is the part many Dreamers do not know: for some people, a lawful entry on advance parole can matter later, because how you last entered the United States affects whether you can adjust status to a green card if another path opens up, for example, through marriage to a US citizen. That is a strategy question with real consequences, and it depends entirely on your individual history. Whether advance parole makes sense for you, and how to use it without creating a problem, is exactly the kind of thing to plan with an attorney before you buy a ticket, not after you land.
LOOKING PAST DACA
Because DACA does not lead to a green card on its own, the most important conversation many Dreamers can have is not about DACA at all. It is about whether any other, more permanent path is available to them. For a lot of people, the honest answer is "not yet," and we will tell you that plainly rather than sell false hope. But for others, there is a real option hiding in plain sight, and they simply never had anyone map their full situation.
The paths that most often help Dreamers are the ordinary ones: marriage to a US citizen or permanent resident, which can sometimes lead to a green card; an employer willing to sponsor an employment-based case for someone with the right skills or education; or humanitarian options for people who have survived certain crimes or abuse. Every one of these depends on the specifics: how you entered the country, your immigration and any criminal history, your family and work situation. As a dreamers immigration lawyer, what we actually do is look at all of it together and tell you whether a durable path exists, what it would take, and what to protect in the meantime.
Marriage to a US citizen or permanent resident may open a green card path. How you last entered the country (including any entry on advance parole) can be decisive.
Family & Marriage ImmigrationAn employer sponsorship or an advanced-degree/self-petition path may fit Dreamers with the right education or skills.
Employment Green CardsU visas for certain crime victims and VAWA self-petitions for survivors of abuse can be available regardless of DACA.
Humanitarian ImmigrationSTAYING PROTECTED
Uncertainty is exhausting, but there is a lot you can control even when the program's future is not settled. The Dreamers who weather the ups and downs best are usually the ones who keep their own house in order: they never let a renewal lapse, they keep careful copies of their records, they get legal advice before doing anything with travel or a new application, and they know to be cautious about the scams and rumors that always spike whenever DACA is in the news.
That last point matters more than it should. Every wave of DACA headlines brings a wave of bad information: notarios and unlicensed "consultants" charging for filings they cannot competently do, and viral claims that turn out to be wrong. Real protection comes from accurate, licensed legal advice and from keeping your status current. We are here to be the steady, honest read whenever the ground shifts, so that whatever happens next with the program, you are not caught off guard.
Never let your DACA or EAD lapse: file renewals early
Keep organized copies of every filing, receipt, and approval
Get legal advice before any travel, new application, or big decision
Ignore rumors and social-media claims: confirm with a licensed attorney
Beware notarios and unlicensed "consultants": only a licensed attorney or accredited representative should handle your case
WHY DELGADO PURDY LAW
DACA is an area where being a little out of date can do real harm, because the rules genuinely change. At our firm, an immigration attorney handles your case directly and stays current on where the program actually stands, so the advice you get reflects this month's reality, not last year's article. When you need an honest answer about whether to renew, whether to travel, or whether another path is open, you get it from an attorney who knows your file.
We also understand that DACA is a family matter as much as an individual one: parents, siblings, and spouses are often part of the conversation. Between our two founding attorneys we work in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, including native Brazilian Portuguese that almost no other firm in Palm Beach immigration offers, so everyone at the table can follow what is happening. We serve Dreamers and their families from three offices across Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Metro Atlanta.
CLIENT REVIEWS
Real Google reviews from our Boynton Beach and Lake Worth offices. Every card links back to the profile it came from, so you can check any of it yourself.
“Thais is an amazing lawyer and person, and because she’s Brazilian too, our communication was great! During the process she was always there to answer the questions about my immigration process in minutes! She really helped me and clarified everything when I needed. I highly recommend her!”
Deborah Z.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Boynton Beach
“Delgado Law Group has done a great job on my family’s immigration case. They have been much more professional and productive than our prior legal team. We really appreciate their support.”
Haydee Cedeño
7 months ago · Lake Worth
“Thais was awesome and has great communication. I was having trouble getting my wife’s visa with another lawyer. Thais stepped in and got it done right away. She made our case a priority and I highly recommend hiring her. She turned our stressful situation into an easy one.”
David R.
Honolulu, HI · Boynton Beach
“Amazing job on my case! Amazing service overall! Jackie knows her stuff and will fight hard for you and your case! I am satisfied and would highly recommend! Thank you Jackie and her office for everything.”
Mimi M.
a year ago · Lake Worth
“After two frustrating experiences with other lawyers here in Florida, we finally found someone who would give us all the legal and emotional support to face this difficult and long-awaited dream. Thais Arsolino helped us overcome the fears and challenges of our EB-3. She guided our process from start to finish with dedication. Thank you for being a fundamental part of this achievement for our family!”
Bruna Loyola
Florida · Boynton Beach
Translated from Portuguese.
Verify on Google, Boynton Beach profile“Ms. Delgado is the best lawyer ever. Helped my whole family and can’t thank her enough. God bless Ms. Delgado and her whole crew.”
Manuel Francisco
10 months ago · Lake Worth
“I would recommend this law office over any other in the South Florida area. The care and attention I have received here is unlike any other. When you call, you get to speak with the actual attorney, not an assistant or paralegal.”
Ryan B.
Miami, FL · Boynton Beach
“Thais was always available for my calls and messages. I was surprised at how quickly she and her staff responded to my concerns. I’m happy to say that my case is now over and I can move on with my life.”
Maria F.
Jupiter, FL · Boynton Beach
“No words for the professionalism. I recommend Purdy to everyone. I especially thank Thais, an undisputed professional.”
Lailson Lesbao
Brazil · Boynton Beach
Translated from Portuguese.
Verify on Google, Boynton Beach profileThese are real reviews from real clients, published with their permission. Every immigration case turns on its own facts. A prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
DACA FAQS
DACA continues to be governed by ongoing litigation, and its availability has depended on court decisions rather than a single settled law. For much of that litigation, people who already have DACA have generally been able to renew, while new, first-time applications have been more limited. Because a court ruling can change the picture quickly, the only reliable answer is a current one. Before you count on being able to apply or renew, confirm today's status with an attorney. This is genuinely a moving target.
They are in different legal positions. Renewals, for people who already have DACA, have generally continued through the litigation. Initial applications, for people who have never had DACA, have been more restricted, and whether they are being accepted at all depends on where the court cases stand at the moment. If you already have DACA, your focus is usually renewing on time without a gap. If you have never had it, whether you can apply is a question to ask an attorney about current conditions.
No. DACA is temporary protection from deportation plus a work permit. It is not a visa, not a green card, and it does not lead to citizenship by itself. That is not a reason to lose hope. It is a reason to look at whether a separate path to permanent residency exists for you, such as through marriage, employment, or a humanitarian category. Many Dreamers have options they have never had reviewed; the only way to know is to look at your full situation with an attorney.
Early: months before your current protection and work permit expire, not in the final weeks. USCIS generally recommends filing renewals well ahead of expiration, and there is rarely any advantage to waiting. A lapse in your work authorization can cost you a job or an offer even though you remain eligible, and processing times are not always predictable. The safest habit is to calendar your expiration date and start the renewal well in advance.
Not without advance parole, which is advance permission to leave and return for an approved reason such as certain educational, employment, or humanitarian purposes. Leaving without it can put your protection and your ability to re-enter at serious risk. Even with advance parole, travel is a decision to plan carefully, because how you last entered the country can affect a future green card application. Always get legal advice before making any travel plans as a DACA recipient.
Sometimes, but it depends heavily on your individual history, especially how you last entered the United States. Marriage to a US citizen can open a green card path, but whether you can complete that path inside the country (adjustment of status) or must process abroad turns on your entry and immigration history. For some DACA recipients, a lawful entry on advance parole changes what is possible. This is exactly the kind of situation to map out with an attorney before making any moves, because the sequence matters.
Be very careful about who handles your case. Only a licensed attorney or a representative accredited by the government should prepare immigration filings for you. "Notarios" and unlicensed consultants (who in some countries are trusted professionals but in the US are not authorized to give legal advice) cause real harm every year, often charging for filings they cannot competently do. Whenever DACA is in the news, scams and false rumors spike. Confirm anything important with a licensed attorney before you pay anyone or file anything.
DACA renewals are usually handled as a flat legal fee within a defined range, separate from the government filing fees, so you know the cost up front. More complex work (evaluating a possible green card path, an advance parole strategy, or a case with a complicated history) is scoped at the consultation. We quote a real number once we understand your situation. A 30-minute consultation is $100 by phone or video, or $250 in person, and if you retain us, that fee is credited to your case.
RELATED PRACTICE AREAS
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GUESS ALONE
Schedule a consultation and we will tell you where the program stands right now, help keep your protection current, and look honestly at whether a longer-term path is open to you. We will do it in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French, with your attorney on your case.
