DACA
What is DACA?
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
On June 12, 2012, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing temporary or deferred protection against the deportation of young immigrants who came to the United States as children. In turn, the DHS (Homeland Security) created the DACA program with the purpose of protecting these young people.
For more information, click the image to go to visit USCIS’s main DACA webpage.
DACA provides young undocumented immigrants:
• Protection against deportation
• Employment authorization
• Temporary immigration status - also known as DREAMers.
DREAM Act
The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) is a 2017 piece of legislation, which as of today has not been passed, it proposes to facilitate permanent residency for so-called DREAMers.
Undocumented Students
• DACA / DREAMers students are undocumented.
• There are other students who have not been able to apply for DACA, because of the moratorium imposed on USCIS from receiving new applications currently in court in the United States (effects of Trump's 2017 decision).
• DACA students may renew their DACA every two years, there is no moratorium on renewals.
• In Puerto Rico there is no legislation regarding access to educational institutions for undocumented students.
• At the moment, the UPR does not have an institutional policy to address this issue.
• TPS is another category of temporary protection for people with and without visa classification, who can also study.
Six Things Undocumented Students Need to Know About College
1. You can go to college
2. You are not alone
3. You can find a college that fits you
4. You apply like any other student
5. Your options can change
6. You can find resources to help you