On Aug. 15, 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will begin accepting applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).聽 The DACA program allows certain undocumented immigrants who came into the U.S. before age sixteen to gain temporary relief from deportation and obtain work authorization.聽 While DHS has confirmed that applicants for the program will not face adverse action for coming forward, officials have not provided the same assurances for employers who may be asked to provide documentation for existing workers.聽 The program is expected to benefit as many as 1.76 million unauthorized immigrants, of which 58 percent are currently working.
Individuals may be eligible to participate in the DACA program if they:
- Came to the U.S. under the age of sixteen;
- Were under age 31 and had no valid immigration status on June 15, 2012;
- Have continuously resided in the U.S. between June 15, 2007 and the present;
- Are enrolled in school on the date of the request, graduated from high school, obtained a GED, or were honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces;
- Have not been convicted on a felony, a 鈥渟ignificant鈥 misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.