On August 18th, 2011, senior administration officials announced that the Department of Homeland Security would begin reevaluating all 300,000 cases in deportation proceedings. This announcement declared that all individuals deemed “low-priority” by DHS would be administratively closed and those individuals would be able to apply for a work permit.

What is “low-priority”? People falling under the category of “low-priority” include (but are not limited to): DREAMers, parents of US citizen children, spouses of US citizens, those with significant ties to their communities, and individuals without a criminal record.

Beginning December 5th, 2011, Baltimore and Denver will serve as pilot cities for the program. ICE field offices will begin reviewing each deportation case in those cities, closing cases deemed “low-priority”, and hopefully keeping thousands of families together in the process.

For more information, check out

• Case Review Memo Nov 17 2011 (PDF)
• Guidance to ICE Attorneys November 17 2011 (PDF)
• DHS Announcement- English Community Education Presentation (3) (PDF)