The Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative (DACA) is a two-year program that allows undocumented youth to work. During those two years, the permit also protects them from deportation.
In the audio player above, listen to one individual's experience with DACA. Here's a few things that may interest you about DACA:
- DACA is not an immigration status. People approved for DACA are not on a path to permanency, or on a path to citizenship.
- Even after paying DACA's $500 fee, an eligible person may be denied the permit because the procedure is administrative and discretionary.
- About 50 percent of the people who will eventually qualify for DACA are still too young to apply.
- Roughly half of those who meet the age requirements have applied.
- The DACA card allows individuals to get a Social Security card and a driver's license.
- Expired DACA permits may be renewed for two more years. But there's no word on what happens after that.
