The federal government is set to begin accepting applications on Feb. 18 from people seeking benefits through the Obama administration’s executive actions on immigration.
In November, President Barack Obama announced his administration was expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which grants young immigrants temporary work permits and deportation deferrals.
The Obama administration’s move eliminated the age cap in the program — now at 31 — and requires applicants to have continually resided in the U.S. from January of 2010 to the present, a change from June of 2007.
The White House has estimated 270,000 more people will qualify nationwide. As of Sept. 30, 610,375 people have been approved for the program across the country, federal data shows. Of those, 19,009 live in Georgia.
Critics say the program promotes illegal immigration. Supporters say it is a humanitarian way to treat people who were illegally brought to the U.S. as children.
See the program's new eligibility requirements here.
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