DACA at the Three-year Mark: High Pace of Renewals, But Processing Difficulties Evident

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has provided hundreds of thousands of young unauthorized immigrants with a temporary reprieve from deportation and access to work authorization since it was first launched by the Obama administration in 2012. This brief finds that 83 percent,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2015
Main Authors: Mathay, Angelo, McHugh, Margie
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Children & youth/Families & family life
Government
Immigration
Migration Policy Institute
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has provided hundreds of thousands of young unauthorized immigrants with a temporary reprieve from deportation and access to work authorization since it was first launched by the Obama administration in 2012. This brief finds that 83 percent, or 355,805, of the 430,396 beneficiaries eligible to renew their grants had done so as of March 31, 2015. The authors find that this high renewal application rate demonstrates the value that recipients place on DACA, which has provided life-altering benefits to many. The brief finds that even as most DACA participants are applying to renew their benefits as their initial grant nears its end date, the process has been hampered by processing delays within USCIS, confusion over the renewals process, lack of outreach and information, and difficulties for some affording the $465 application fee. The brief examines the status of DACA renewal applications and adjudications, the consequences of failing to renew on time, and issues affecting renewal rates.