DACA

Definition

DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit. This policy has been a significant part of the discussion around presidential powers and immigration reform in the United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. DACA was established by an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in 2012, allowing certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to apply for temporary relief from deportation and work authorization.
2. To be eligible for DACA, applicants must have arrived in the U.S. before their 16th birthday, continuously resided in the country since June 15, 2007, be enrolled in school or have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have no felony convictions or significant misdemeanors.
3. DACA does not provide a path to citizenship, but it allows recipients to legally work, study, and live in the United States for a renewable two-year period.
4. The Trump administration attempted to end DACA in 2017, but the program was upheld by federal courts, and the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the administration's termination of DACA was arbitrary and capricious.
5. The future of DACA remains uncertain, as the program continues to face legal challenges and political debates around immigration policy in the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain how DACA relates to the design and evolution of the presidency, particularly in the context of executive orders and immigration policy.
  • DACA is a prime example of how the president can use their executive authority to shape immigration policy through direct action, such as issuing an executive order. The establishment of DACA by President Obama and the subsequent attempts to end the program by the Trump administration demonstrate the evolving role of the presidency in addressing complex immigration issues. This highlights the ongoing tension between the executive branch's ability to enact policies and the legislative branch's role in passing immigration reform legislation.
• Describe how DACA has impacted presidential governance and the use of direct presidential action, particularly in the context of immigration policy.
  • DACA has been a significant part of the discussion around presidential governance and the use of direct presidential action. The program's creation through an executive order by President Obama and the subsequent legal battles over its termination by the Trump administration have highlighted the president's ability to shape immigration policy through unilateral action. This has sparked debates about the appropriate scope of executive power, the role of the legislative branch in immigration reform, and the long-term implications of using direct presidential action to address complex social and political issues.
• Evaluate the role of DACA in the ongoing debate around the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in the context of immigration policy and reform.
  • The DACA program has become a central part of the ongoing debate around the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in the context of immigration policy and reform. The president's ability to enact DACA through an executive order, and the subsequent legal challenges and political debates surrounding the program, have highlighted the tension between the executive branch's power to shape immigration policy and the legislative branch's role in passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation. This debate raises questions about the appropriate scope of presidential authority, the role of the courts in reviewing executive actions, and the need for bipartisan cooperation to address complex immigration issues through the legislative process.

Related terms

Deferred Action: A temporary, discretionary decision by the government to postpone the deportation of an individual for a certain period of time.

Undocumented Immigrants: Individuals who are living in the United States without legal immigration status or documentation.

Immigration Reform: The process of changing and updating laws and policies related to immigration in the United States.