DACA program

In 2012, then-President Barack Obama introduced the so-called DACA Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. by presidential decree because his planned immigration reform failed to win a majority in Congress. Instead of facing deportation, more than 700,000 minors were allowed to stay in the US under this protection program and, if necessary, study or work, even though they had come to the United States illegally and without papers with their families. For this purpose, minors 16 years of age and older had to apply to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (USCIS) for "deferral of removal," i.e., apply for a DACA permit, through which a legal status including two-year work permit could be obtained. During this time, the persons are protected from deportation.

Since DACA's inception, it has benefited not only the immigrant children involved, but also much of the US economy. To qualify for the DACA program, applicants must:

• have been younger than 31 years of age on the day the law was passed (06/15/2012)
• have entered the U.S. before their 16th birthday
• have resided in the United States without interruption since 06/15/2007
• have been in the US on 06/15/2012 and on the date they file the DACA application with USCIS
• have not had legal residency status in the US as of 06/15/2012
• currently attending school or have successfully completed school or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. military
• have not committed any criminal acts or the like

An extension of the protected status is always possible again (for two more years), as long as the application was filed in time before the 2-year period expired. Obtaining US citizenship (as originally envisioned at the DREAM Act) is not provided for in the DACA program.

There are also strict travel regulations for DACA program participants. For example, they must obtain prior approval from the relevant authorities before leaving the United States in order to avoid having their status revoked. Applications for permission to leave the country can be submitted for humanitarian reasons or for urgent business reasons, for example.

While opponents of the DACA program argue that it takes jobs away from thousands of Americans, supporters point to the many improvements that the program has brought. For example, the residency permit entitles holders not only to study, but also to work legally, which not only reduces undocumented work, but also generates more tax revenue and counteracts the lack of prospects for the children of illegal immigrants. Thus, the termination of the program could damage both the economy and security of the United States.