-- Immigration attorney Hillary Walsh has unveiled a national initiative designed to help recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program convert their professional accomplishments into permanent residency. Her focus is on individuals who have already established themselves in science, technology, engineering, medicine, and high-growth entrepreneurship.
Photo Courtesy of: Katie Levine
Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show that roughly 530,000 people currently hold DACA status, a program introduced in 2012 to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. While DACA provides work authorization and protection from deportation, it does not offer a direct route to a green card. For many participants, the only long-term options have been family-based petitions or extended reliance on temporary status.
Walsh wants to broaden those options. “I graduated law school the same year DACA became a program, and for over a decade I have watched these professionals build careers while remaining locked out of permanent residency,” she said. “It’s time to highlight employment-based and self-petition paths that match the contributions they are already making.”
Targeting Professionals Who Have Already Defied the Odds
The campaign specifically targets DACA recipients who are already working in advanced or essential fields. This includes registered nurses and physical therapists with employers willing to sponsor them, physicians in residency programs, robotics engineers with graduate-level credentials, and entrepreneurs whose businesses are creating jobs and driving innovation.
These professionals often meet the requirements for employment-based green cards through employer sponsorship or national interest waivers. The latter allows individuals to self-petition if their work benefits the United States broadly. According to Department of Labor data, healthcare and technology are projected to be among the fastest-growing sectors through 2030, making these workers vital to the country’s economy and public health.
Walsh emphasized that many of these professionals have been contributing to critical industries for years without the security of permanent status. “They are already essential to hospitals, research labs, and technology firms,” she said. “Helping them transition to permanent residency is not only fair but also consistent with U.S. economic interests.”
Challenging the Marriage or “Dead-End Job” Dilemma
For many DACA recipients, the most common path to a green card has been through marriage to a U.S. citizen or remaining in jobs that offer limited mobility simply to maintain employer support. Walsh aims to break that cycle.
She argues that talented professionals should not feel pressured to marry or stay in roles that limit their growth. Her campaign highlights how individuals can either self-petition through national interest waivers or work with employers willing to file permanent labor certifications (known as PERM).
“The message is clear: you don’t have to be tied to a job you’ve outgrown or to a relationship you don’t want just to stay in the country,” Walsh said. She adds that employers often underestimate how cost-effective sponsorship can be, and part of the campaign involves educating companies about the process and benefits of supporting DACA employees.
Combining Legal Strategy with Public Engagement
Walsh’s effort includes a national public education component. She has built a large following on TikTok, where she fields questions about DACA-related green card options and shares case studies from her legal practice. She is also completing a book that details every major route from DACA to permanent residency.
Her firm, New Frontier Immigration Law, based in Phoenix and Los Angeles with over 100 remote staff, has already assisted more than 4,000 clients in securing various forms of immigration relief. It was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of Arizona’s fastest-growing law firms for four consecutive years. This background provides a platform for the campaign, which seeks to reach both individual DACA holders and the employers who can sponsor them.
The effort comes at a time of policy uncertainty. Court challenges to DACA continue, and while the program remains in effect for current recipients, the lack of a permanent legislative solution has created anxiety about long-term stability. The Migration Policy Institute notes that more than three-quarters of DACA holders are employed, with many earning degrees and working in professional fields.
A Timely Effort for a Changing Workforce
Walsh’s initiative arrives as the U.S. economy faces persistent shortages in healthcare and technology sectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 275,000 new jobs for registered nurses by 2030 and strong demand for engineers in emerging fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence.
By focusing on employment-based and self-petition pathways, the campaign highlights an underused route for DACA recipients who already match these high-demand profiles. It also encourages employers to view sponsorship not as a burden but as a strategic move to retain talent that is already contributing to critical industries.
Through this national campaign, Walsh is drawing attention to a group of professionals who have long been part of the U.S. workforce yet remain without a clear path to permanence. Her work underscores the growing recognition that DACA recipients are not just participants in the American economy, they are shaping its future.
Contact Info:
Name: Kristina Tangolics
Email: Send Email
Organization: New Frontier Immigration Law
Website: http://www.newfrontier.us
Release ID: 89171839
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