What Is DACA and How Did It Start

DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The U.S. government created this program in 2012 under President Barack Obama. The program was designed to help certain people who came to the United States as children and have lived here without authorization.

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Deferred Action is a legal term that means the government agrees not to deport a person for a set period of time. When someone receives DACA status, they get what is called "deferred action" for a period of two years. This means the government postpones any removal proceedings against that person for those two years.

The program did not create a path to citizenship or permanent residency. Instead, it provided temporary relief from deportation. Since 2012, more than 800,000 people have received DACA status at some point, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data. The program has been one of the most significant immigration policies of the past decade.

DACA became available because many young people brought to America as children grew up here. They spoke English, went to American schools, and considered the United States their home. However, they did not have legal immigration status. The program attempted to address this situation by allowing these individuals to stay and work in the country without fear of deportation during their DACA period.

The program has faced legal challenges and political debate since it began. Some people support it as a practical solution for young immigrants who are essentially American. Others oppose it, arguing that it bypasses the normal immigration process. Despite this controversy, the program has remained in place and continues to accept certain requests.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding that DACA is a temporary, deportation-deferral program—not a permanent status or citizenship—helps set realistic expectations about what the program offers. It is important to know that DACA does not solve immigration status permanently, but rather provides a two-year period of protection.

Who Can Learn About DACA Requirements

Not everyone can learn about whether DACA status may be available to them. The program has specific requirements based on age, arrival date, and presence in the United States. Understanding these basic requirements is the first step in learning about the program.

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A person generally must have arrived in the United States before June 15, 2007, to be considered. This date is very important. Someone who arrived after this date would not fall under the original DACA guidelines. Additionally, a person must have been under 16 years old when they arrived in the country.

Age at the time of request also matters. When someone requests DACA status, they must be at least 15 years old. There is no upper age limit, so someone who arrived as a child decades ago could still learn about DACA options. However, the younger someone is when they arrived, the clearer their situation typically is for DACA purposes.

A person must also show that they have lived in the United States continuously since June 15, 2007. This means leaving the country and returning would break this continuous presence. There are limited exceptions to this rule, such as for parole or authorized travel, but generally, a person must have been in the country without leaving during this entire period.

Additional requirements include not having serious criminal convictions, not posing a security risk, and being physically present in the United States. These rules exist to ensure that DACA is used for the purpose it was intended—to help young people brought here as children.

Practical Takeaway: Before learning more about DACA in detail, check whether the arrival date, age, and continuous presence requirements roughly match your situation. If these basic requirements do not fit, other immigration programs may be more relevant to explore. If they do fit, learning more about DACA may be worthwhile.

Understanding DACA Work Permits and Travel Documents

One of the main benefits DACA provides is the right to work in the United States. People who have DACA status receive an Employment Authorization Document, often called an EAD or work permit. This document allows them to work legally for any employer in the country.

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The work permit is valid for the same two-year period as the DACA status itself. This means that if someone receives DACA status in January 2024, their work permit expires in January 2026. They must request renewal before expiration if they want to continue working. An estimated 580,000 people with DACA currently work in the United States, contributing to the economy and paying taxes.

Having a work permit changes what employers can do. Once someone has an EAD, they can fill out Form I-9, which is the employment eligibility verification form. This allows them to work at jobs that require background checks or that verify work authorization. Without DACA, many jobs would not be available to someone without legal status.

DACA also allows certain people to request permission to travel outside the United States and return. This is called Advance Parole. Someone with DACA status can request Advance Parole to visit family members in another country or for educational or work reasons. Without Advance Parole, leaving the United States and trying to return would likely result in being stopped at the border.

The Advance Parole document is separate from the work permit. A person must request both documents, though they are processed together. Advance Parole is not automatically granted, and each request is considered individually. Many people use Advance Parole to visit family members they have not seen since childhood, which provides significant personal value beyond the legal protections.

Practical Takeaway: DACA work permits open access to many jobs that would otherwise be closed. Additionally, Advance Parole allows travel for important personal reasons. Understanding that these documents expire and require renewal ensures that someone with DACA status can plan ahead and continue working and traveling without interruption.

How the DACA Request Process Works

The process for requesting DACA status involves submitting forms and documents to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, also called USCIS. This is the government agency that handles DACA requests. The process is detailed and requires careful attention to instructions and requirements.

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The main form for a DACA request is Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. However, most people also file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, at the same time to request Advance Parole. These forms ask for personal information, immigration history, and criminal background details. They also require biographical information like fingerprints and photographs.

Along with these forms, a person must submit supporting documents. These may include a birth certificate, passport, school records, and documents showing continuous residence in the United States since 2007. Examples of residence documents include lease agreements, utility bills, school enrollment papers, or employment records. The more documents someone can provide, the stronger their request becomes.

There is a filing fee associated with requesting DACA status. As of 2024, the fee is $85 for the Form I-765 and $250 for Advance Parole, totaling $335 for both requests. Some people may not have to pay this fee, or the fee may be waived based on income level. USCIS provides fee waiver request forms for those who cannot afford the filing fee.

After submission, USCIS processes the request. Processing times vary, but they often take several months. USCIS will send notifications by mail about the status of the request. A biometric appointment may be required, where the person goes to a USCIS office to provide fingerprints and have a photograph taken. Once everything is approved, USCIS mails the work permit and travel documents to the person's address.

Practical Takeaway: Preparing all required documents before starting the request process prevents delays and mistakes. Organizing documents in a folder, making copies, and keeping a checklist ensures nothing is forgotten. Understanding that the process takes months allows someone to plan their work and travel needs accordingly.

Protections and Limitations of DACA Status

DACA status provides important legal protections, but it is important to understand both what it offers and what it does not offer. This knowledge helps people with DACA status make informed decisions about their lives and work.

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The primary protection DACA provides is protection from deportation. During the two-year period when someone has DACA status, the U.S. government generally will