Due to the failure of Congress to pass the DREAM Act, the President instituted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy in 2012. This policy allowed certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 15, 2012, to receive a renewable two-year work permit as well as an exemption from deportation.
Facts You Should Know
- To apply for DACA, individuals must pay a $465 application fee, submit numerous forms, and produce documentation showing they meet the requirements.
- DACA does not grant legal status to an applicant or negate a prior period of unlawful presence.
- If deferred action is granted, the applicant will not be considered unlawfully present during the time period the deferred action is in effect.
- Between August 2012 and March 2015, 794,501 applications for initial DACA were filed and 664,607 were approved. Between June 2014 and March 2015, 381,188 applications for DACA renewal were filed and 243,872 were approved.
- The state of Arizona challenged DACA, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the state’s challenge.
- DACA individuals pay income and social security taxes, but are exempt from the requirement to have health insurance.
More Information on DACA…
