DACA Explained - High School

What is DACA?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, more commonly known as DACA is an American immigration policy created in 2012 by the Barack Obama administration through the Department of Homeland Security.

Why was DACA Created?

Daca was created as a temporary executive action as a response to Congress’s failure to pass the DREAM Act. The DREAM was designed as a federal law to grant permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship, whereas DACA is a temporary protection from deportation, with work authorization. DACA was designed to protect childhood arrivals from deportation when the DREAM Act was rejected. 

What Does DACA Include?

The key aspects of DACA include protection from deportation by deferring removable action against young people for renewable two year periods. Furthermore, DACA recipients are legally authorized to apply for work permits and obtain Social Security numbers. However, DACA does not provide a pathway to citizenship or grant official permanent legal status in the United States.

Core Eligibility Rules:

In order to qualify for DACA, applicants must meet a set of specific criteria. This includes:

• Must have arrived in the United States before their 16th birthday

• Must have consistently resided in the United States since June 15, 2007

• Must have been under the age of 31 since June 15, 2007

• Must be currently in high school, have a high school diploma/GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran, with a clean criminal record

What is Happening Now?

Currently, DACA is facing heavy court battles, which have resulted in the complete termination of first-time, new DACA applicants. While active renewals are being processed, the renewal times have stretched from weeks to months. Because of this, some Dreamers (DACA recipients) are experiencing gaps in their valid work permits and temporary deportation protection, even when filing for renewal within the recommended 120-150 day period. The recent Board of Immigration Appeals ruling that active DACA status does not automatically halt ongoing deportation proceedings has spread anxiety and panic among recipients.