Image by Brother Christian Seno, OFM (CC by 2.0), original photo of girl is in color
This resource guide is intended to provide general information on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and resources for DACA recipients both on the web, in the Albany, New York area, and at The College of Saint Rose.
DACA was a U.S. immigration program created under President Barack Obama and established by the Department of Homeland Security in 2012. The program granted individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children the temporary right to live, study, and work in the U.S., without the threat of prosecution and deportation. Individuals, often referred to as Dreamers, had to formally apply to the program and meet strict guidelines in order to be approved for DACA status. As of September 2017 there were approximately 800,000 DACA beneficiaries in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security, under the direction of the Trump administration, announced the rescission of DACA on September 5th, 2017.
Calls for comprehensive immigration reform and legal challenges to the Trump administration's decision to phase out DACA in federal courts continue to mount. All the while, the legal status of DACA recipients remains in limbo.
Update: "On November 14, 2020, a United States District Court issued an order requiring the Department of Homeland Security to reinstate the DACA policy that was in effect on September 4, 2017. On December 4, 2020, the District Court directed DHS to take several steps in compliance with its order." - USCIS
Latest information on DACA from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
This page will be updated with any new policy changes as they are announced by the Biden administration.