The National Immigration Law Center has created the following Q-and-A about DACA.
Many of us are concerned about what could happen to the DACA program—and to DACA recipients—under President Trump’s administration.[1] During his campaign, Trump said that he intends to end the DACA program. But since the election, he has not said exactly if, when, or how he might do this. Nor do we know what his administration’s officials might do with the information that DACA applicants have submitted on their applications.
But we do know this: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed on January 23 that USCIS is still accepting and processing DACA applications, despite the possibility that that the DACA program might be terminated.
Since DACA was created in 2012, anyone deciding whether or not to apply for it has had to weigh the benefits and risks of applying. When you provide information about yourself to immigration authorities—by submitting the DACA application—you are taking a risk. On the other hand, having DACA has brought many benefits to the people who have it, benefits that are highlighted in the recent report New Study of DACA Beneficiaries Shows Positive Economic and Educational Outcomes. Over 750,000 people have chosen to apply for and have received DACA. Many of them have, as a result, found better-paying jobs, received driver’s licenses, and enjoyed other benefits.
This FAQ provides information and recommendations that may help you decide what to do with respect to DACA now that Trump is the president. However, the information in this FAQ is not legal advice. Every person’s situation is different. To get legal advice about whether you should either apply for DACA for the first time or apply to renew your DACA, you should talk to a qualified immigration lawyer or a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)–accredited representative.