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Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Important information about DACA requests: Due to a federal court order, USCIS has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. USCIS is not accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA. Until further notice, and unless otherwise provided in this guidance, the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017. For more information, visit Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Response to January 2018 Preliminary Injunction.
Who are DREAMers?
DREAMers are individuals who were brought to the United States as minors and are named after the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which was introduced by legislation in 2001. Over the last 18 years, at least ten versions of the Dream Act have been introduced in Congress. While the various versions of the Dream Act have contained some key differences, they all would have provided a pathway to legal status for undocumented youth who came to this country as children.

What is DACA?
On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion, providing temporary relief from deportation (deferred action) and work authorization to certain young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children and know only this country as home. DACA has enabled almost 800,000 eligible young adults to work lawfully, attend school, and plan their lives without the constant threat of deportation, usually to an unfamiliar country. Unlike federal legislation, however, DACA does not provide permanent legal status to individuals and must be renewed every two years.

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If you have any questions about your request please call USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283 or (800) 767-1833 (TDD). Or visit www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals.