Recipients of deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program get two-year Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). Due to an error, some DACA recipients got EADs that are valid for three years. Such EADs, issued after February 16, 2015, need to be returned to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Around 2,100 deferred action recipients were issued work permits valid for three years rather than two years. These permits were issued after an injunction blocking the executive action announced by President Obama was issued in February 2015.
USCIS has notified the DACA recipients with three-year permits that those permits are no longer valid. They must give back those documents to USCIS. In an attempt to correct the issue, USCIS has mailed employment authorization documents valid for two years to those individuals.
Receipts will be provided to the DACA recipients who return their EADs. The DACA recipients need not make appointments but can just visit the USCIS field offices during the hours mentioned in their letters and return their cards. While visiting the field offices, they must take with them the letters sent by USCIS asking them to return their EADs.
USCIS is tracking the number of returns of those permits. People who have not returned their EADs will be contacted by USCIS by phone. Authorities may also visit the homes of the individuals who have not responded. According to AILA, USCIS is likely to first visit the homes of DACA recipients in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Houston. Followed by that, immigration authorities will visit people living in other parts of the country.
Note: DACA recipients who were issued three-year EADs on or before February 16, 2015 need not return them. This announcement applies only to those who received three-year work authorization permits after February 16, 2015. Those who refuse to return those documents are likely to be stripped off their deferred action status.