Immigration Facts: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) By: Audrey Singer and Nicole Prchal Svajlenka

“As Congress debates the fate of the “DREAMers”—those undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children—the one-year anniversary of the start of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program occurs on August 15. The DACA program—an initiative of the Obama administration—does not provide permanent lawful status to applicants. However, it confers two important advantages to approved applicants: a temporary suspension of deportation and the authorization to work in the United States. The program also provides researchers and policymakers a glimpse into the “DREAMer” cohort.”