DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a U.S. immigration policy established in 2012 that allows certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to defer deportation for a renewable period, typically two years. Individuals eligible for DACA must meet specific criteria, including arriving in the U.S. before the age of 16, having no felony convictions, and being enrolled in school, having graduated, or having served in the military. While DACA does not provide a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship, it issues work permits and protects beneficiaries, known as “Dreamers,” from being removed from the country. The policy has faced legal challenges and changes in administration, impacting its stability and the lives of those it affects.
A federal appeals court has dealt a significant setback to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, declaring it illegal under U.S. immigration law. On Friday, the Fifth Circuit…