DACA Repeal: Facts and Figures

Aviva Futornick, Online Editor

Why is it being repealed?

The Trump administration’s decision came after a group of Republican state officials threatened to sue the administration if they did not begin taking steps to end it. Although DACA was originally largely unopposed, it changed in 2014 when Obama proposed loosening DACA’s age restrictions and a new program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA), which would give immigrants parents of US citizens the same protections. This would have expanded the potential pool to over 4.5 million immigrants. The implementation of DAPA was stopped in court, but arguments were drawn on where the line between DACA and DAPA is drawn.

What is the future of DACA?
Congress has been given a six-month window to either find an alternative plan or the repeal becomes permanent. The window ends in March 2018. If Congress does not pass a bill protecting DACA recipients before then, many of their fates are up in the air. A recipient who is currently covered in the program, can retain their protections until they expire. Recipients whose protections expire before March had one month to renew their protections, but the government will not accept new applications. The state of California and
several other left-leaning states sued the administration to try and stop their decision. If no decision is made, all 800,000 DACA recipients will once again be subject to constant uncertainty and fear.