What is DACA?

What is DACA?

Let's Break it Down!

Open Ended

#1. What exactly is DACA?

DACA

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

• It protect children brought to the US unlawfully from deportation

• The program DOES NOT grant legal status OR a pathway to citizenship

• The program DOES allow recipients to apply for a driver's license, social security number and work permits

• Recipients must apply for DACA renewal annually

Open Ended

#2. What are the requirements for the DACA Program?

DACA Requirements

• Entered the United States unlawfully prior to their 16th birthday

• Have lived continuously in the United States since June 15, 2007

• Were under age 31 on June 15, 2012 (born on June 16, 1981 or after)

• Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making their request for consideration of deferred action with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

• Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012

• Have completed high school or a GED, have been honorably discharged from the armed forces, or are enrolled in school

• Have not been convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety

Multiple Select

#3. What is the current status of the DACA Program? Check ALL that apply.

• US Government is no longer accepting applications, only renewals

• The program was abolished under the Trump administration.

• It exists but limits have been placed on travel and time between renewals

• President Biden plans to reevaluate and reestablish the program.

DACA Status Information - Trump Administration

• A reduction in the length of time the program ran, from two years to one

• All renewals had to be within 150 to 120 days before the existing application expired

• The rejection of all new DACA applications

• All requests by DACA recipients for travel outside of the United States were denied except in cases where “exceptional circumstances” were established. Under the original program, DACA recipients could travel outside the United States for humanitarian reasons, education and employment with a valid travel document

• In November 2020, a federal judge in New York ruled that Chad Wolf, the acting head of the DHS, did not have the authority to make changes to the DACA program, and those rules were therefore invalid.

Multiple Choice

#4. How many people are eligible for the DACA Program in the United States?

• 5 million

• 3.2 million

• 1.7 million

• 500, 000

DACA Eligibility

• 1.7 million people are eligible for the program

• As of March 2020, only 800,000 people were enrolled in the program

Multiple Choice

#5. What countries to the majority of DACA recipients come from?

• Southeast Asian countries

• Europe

• South America

• Mexico and Central America

DACA Statistics

• A study in 2014 found that 74% of DACA recipients came from Mexico and Central America

• The next largest groups come from the Caribbean, South America and Asia

Open Ended

#6. Name at least one benefit you see from the DACA program.

DACA Benefits

• DACA allows recipients to work; as a result, they contribute over $5.6 billion annually to federal taxes as well as $3.1 billion in state and local taxes

• DACA allows recipients to get higher education which gives them better job opportunities, pursue higher level careers and live in better conditions then whey they arrived in the US.

• DACA recipients make up more than 25% of the front line workers responding to the COVID crisis.

For more information on the DACA Program & to Learn How to Apply go to

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/what-is-daca/#daca-eligibility-