Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Deferred action means that, even though the individual is undocumented and subject to deportation, the government agrees to “defer” any actions to remove them. It allows undocumented immigrants to stay and work in the U.S. A qualifying applicant must have been born after June 15, 1981 and have lived in the United States since June 15, 2007. They also must have arrived in the United States before they were sixteen years old,

PROS AND CONS

1. Receive a two year deferral of deportation

2. Able to apply for work authorization

3. Receive a social security number

4. In most states, receive a driver’s license

1. Does not provide a pathway to getting lawful permanent resident status (a green card) or citizenship

2. Does not give any kind of immigrant status to those with DACA

3. DACA needs to be renewed every 2 years