USCIS implements deferred action policy for aliens who arrived as children

Earlier this summer, the Department of Homeland Security announced that qualified young adult aliens who came to the U.S. as children would be eligible to receive deferred enforced departure (DED). Last week, USCIS released detailed procedures and a new Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.  USCIS is soliciting public comments on the new Form I-821D.  See 77 Fed. Reg. 49451.

Deferred action does not confer lawful status or permanent residence, but rather is an act of prosecutorial discretion not to take action to remove the individual. Individuals may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrival if he or she meets the following criteria:

• under the age 31 as of June 15, 2012
• came to the U.S. before reaching age 16
• has continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007
• physically present in U.S. on June 15, 2012 and at the time of making the request
• either entered without inspection or lawful immigration status has expired as of June 15, 2012
• is currently in school, has graduated or obtained a GED or is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
• has not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or three or more misdemeanors and does not pose a threat to national security or public safety
• is 15 years old or older unless currently in removal proceedings or under a final order of removal or voluntary departure, in which case individual may file without regard to age restriction.

What All Lawyers Need to Know About Copyright

Some people think that copyright law defies common sense, and I sometimes agree with them.   One of the most frustrating things about it is how counter-intuitive so many of the requirements are.  Most lawyers, let alone regular people, often have no idea what is and is not allowed under our current copyright law.  To the rescue come two Boston Lawyers, Mark A. Fischer and Paul Sennott, who, with the assistance of Kristina C. Ng, a student at Northeastern University Law School, have put together for Law.com an article that brings together most of the relevant case law in the areas of copyright most likely to be forgotten by the average practitioner.  Lawyers and Copyrights: Copyright in the House should be required reading for all lawyers, law students, and law faculty.

Cameras in federal courts

One year ago, the federal court system began a pilot project to allow cameras in the U.S. district courts' courtrooms.  Fourteen courts participated in this pilot project.  The resulting recordings have been viewed more than 28,000 times. The recorded proceedings and more information about the pilot can be viewed here.  Currently, the second circuit and the ninth circuit have exercised their rights under the Judicial Conference guidelines to allow cameras in the courtrooms.