Exercising Proset¢orial Discretion with Respect to Individuals

Exercising Proset¢orial Discretion with Respect to Individuals

FROM THE OFFICE OF JANE NAPOLITANO:

By this memorandum, I am setting forth how, in the exercise of our prosecutorial discretion, the

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should enforce the Nation's immigration laws against certain young people who were brought to this country as children and know only this country as home.

As a general matter, these individuals lacked the intent to violate the law and our ongoing review of pending removal cases is already offering administrative closure to many of them.

However, additional measures are necessary to ensure that our enforcement resources are not expended on these low priority cases but are instead appropriately focused on people who meet our enforcement priorities.

The following criteria should be satisfied before an individual is considered for an exercise of

prosecutorial discretion pursuant to this memorandum:

* came to the United States under the age of sixteen;

• has continuously resided in the United States for a least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and is present in the United States on the date of this memorandum;

• is currently in school, has graduated from high school, * has obtained a general education development certificate, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces ofthe United States;

• has not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple

misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise poses a threat to national security or public safety;

and

• is not above the age of thirty.

Our Nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a strong and sensible manner. They are not

designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of

each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they

may not have lived or even speak the language. Indeed, many of these young people have

already contributed to our country in significant ways. Prosecutorial discretion, which is used in

so many other areas, is especially justified here.

As part of this exercise of prosecutorial discretion, the above criteria are to be considered

whether or not an individual is already in removal proceedings or subject to a final order of

removal. No individual should receive deferred action under this memorandum unless they first

pass a background check and requests for relief pursuant to this memorandum are to be decided

on a case by case basis. DHS cannot provide any assurance that relief will be granted in all

cases.

1. With respect to individuals who are encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs

Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS):

• With respect to individuals who meet the above criteria, ICE and CBP should

immediately exercise their discretion, on an individual basis, in order to prevent low

priority individuals from being placed into removal proceedings or removed from the

United States.

• USCIS is instructed to implement this memorandum consistent with its existing guidance

regarding the issuance of notices to appear.

2. With respect to individuals who are in removal proceedings but not yet subject to a final order

of removal, and who meet the above criteria:

• ICE should exercise prosecutorial discretion, on an individual basis, for individuals who

meet the above criteria by deferring action for a period of two years, subject to renewal,

in order to prevent low priority individuals from being removed from the United States.

• ICE is instructed to use its Office of the Public Advocate to permit individuals who

believe they meet the above criteria to identify themselves through a clear and efficient

process.

• ICE is directed to begin implementing this process within 60 days of the date of this

memorandum.

• ICE is also instructed to immediately begin the process of deferring action against

individuals who meet the above criteria whose cases have already been identified through

the ongoing review of pending cases before the Executive Office for Immigration

Review.

3. With respect to the individuals who are not currently in removal proceedings and meet the

above criteria, and pass a background check:

• USCIS should establish a clear and efficient process for exercising prosecutorial

discretion, on an individual basis, by deferring action against individuals who meet the

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above criteria and are at least 15 years old, for a period of two years, subject to renewal, in order to prevent low priority individuals from being placed into removal proceedings

or removed from the United States.

• The USCIS process shall also be available to individuals subject to a final order of

removal regardless of their age.

• US CIS is directed to begin implementing this process within 60 days of the date of this

memorandum.

For individuals who are granted deferred action by either ICE or USCIS, USCIS shall accept applications to determine whether these individuals qualify for work authorization during this period of deferred action.

This memorandum confers no substantive right, immigration status or pathway to citizenship.

Only the Congress, acting through its legislative authority, can confer these rights. It remains for

the executive branch, however, to set forth policy for the exercise of discretion within the framework of the existing law. I have done so here.