Tulsa -
A Tulsa and Oklahoma City law firm had consultations Saturday with dozens of undocumented young people. Legal experts at Alvarez de Bennett helped complete preliminary forms for young people seeking deferred action through the Dream Act.
Legal professional Emilie Blanchard told Channel 8 deferred action status means "not accruing unlawful presence." If the young person entered the country before age 16, is not older than 31, and has remained in school without any serious criminal offenses, he/she will not be deported. This status lasts for two years and is renewable. It allows the young people to work and go to school.
Channel 8 met one 20-year-old undocumented woman who hopes to be able to attend Tulsa Community College if she is granted deferred action.
"I think that we all deserve to have the same things, because we're not doing anything bad here if we want to study and be someone here," she said.
Blanchard said many people misunderstand immigration issues pertaining to young people. She said many of them came to the U.S. when they were young. She said many of them grew up here and never made the decision to enter illegally.
