The DACA Program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

The DACA program, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is an administrative policy enacted by the U.S. government in 2012 that provides temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to certain undocumented individuals who arrived in the U.S. as children. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria such as age, continuous residence, education or military service, and good moral character. DACA does not grant permanent legal status or a path to citizenship but allows recipients to work legally, obtain driver’s licenses, and pursue education, offering temporary protection while policies on their future remain uncertain.