DACA
The Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program, otherwise known as DACA, is a program that allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to legally reside in the U.S. This program was put in place by the Obama Administration on June 15, 2012.
As a global association committed to advancing education worldwide, CASE supports policies that allow and encourage individuals to seek life-changing educational opportunities in the United States regardless of their or their parents' country of origin. Roughly 45 percent of current DACA recipients are enrolled in school or college.
Legislative and Regulatory Issues on DACA
In June 2019, the House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act of 2019 (H.R. 2820) which would provide permanent protections for undocumented immigrants bought to the U.S. as children. Passage of the Senate version of the Dream Act (S.874) is uncertain at this time.
As Congress continues to grapple with a legislative solution, the judicial system is playing a prominent role in the current status of the program. There have been two federal court rulings blocking the Trump administration's termination of DACA. The administration petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in the various termination cases. In June 2019, the Supreme Court announced that the three existing court cases will be consolidated for consideration by the Supreme Court in its fall term. A decision on the issue would likely be made in early summer 2020.
At this time, the Department of Homeland Security must continue processing renewals for current DACA participants, though it does not have to accept new applications.
For the latest developments on DACA, please visit the CASE Advocacy Action Center and join the CASE Advocacy Network.
CASE Position
CASE strongly supports the continuation of the DACA program and is a member of the Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition.
CASE will work with our education sector partners to urge Congress to pass legislation as soon as possible that will include all the protections currently provided under DACA and allow these individuals to continue contributing to our society and economy by working, serving in the military or attending college. As such, CASE supports the Senate and House versions of the Dream Act.
Resources
- Talking Points on DACA
- Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition
- Supreme Court Amicus Brief, American Council on Education, October 2019
- Letter of Support of Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), March 2019
- Letter of Support of Immigration Bill Resolution, May 2018
- Letter to the Department of Homeland Security on Processing DACA Renewals, April 2018
- Higher Education Associations' Letter to Congress on DACA, February 2018
- National Immigration Law Center's DACA FAQ, June 2012
- Department of Homeland Security Press Release announcing DACA program, June 2012
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