Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Scan: Anil Kalhan, original document: w:United States Citizenship and Immigratio · Public domain · source
Name	Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Established	2012
Jurisdiction	United States
Type	Immigration policy program
Status	Varied by administration and litigation

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was a policy initiative introduced in 2012 that granted temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to certain individuals who arrived in the United States as minors. The program affected immigration enforcement, labor markets, civil society responses, and litigation involving federal courts, executive agencies, and state actors. It intersected with numerous public figures, advocacy organizations, and legislative proposals across multiple presidential administrations.

Overview

The policy provided deferred action and employment authorization to qualifying recipients, requiring interaction with agencies such as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice. Beneficiaries often engaged with institutions like the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, and local Board of Education systems while advocacy groups including American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigration Law Center, United We Dream, and Pew Research Center documented impacts. High-profile commentators and politicians such as Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ted Cruz factored into public debate alongside employers like Walmart, Apple Inc., Microsoft, and Google.

History and Legal Development

The initiative was announced under the Barack Obama administration and followed earlier immigration debates involving the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and proposals such as the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Legal antecedents and administrative practices traced to memoranda from officials like John Morton and institutions such as the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Major legal events included litigation in federal courts such as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court decisions and orders affecting scope and implementation. State actors including the State of Texas and coalitions of states led by attorneys general such as Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton filed suits, while municipalities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City responded with local policy adjustments. Congressional actions touched on bills introduced by lawmakers including Marco Rubio, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham, and Harry Reid.

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligibility criteria referenced age and arrival requirements comparable to provisions discussed by United States Congress members and immigration experts at organizations such as the Migration Policy Institute and Center for American Progress. Applicants submitted documents consistent with standards from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and interacted with representatives from legal clinics at universities like Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, Columbia University, and Stanford University. The application process involved filing forms such as those administered by the Department of Homeland Security and complying with background checks involving databases maintained by entities like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security components. Nonprofit legal providers including Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund assisted applicants.

Policy Impact and Statistics

Analyses by research bodies including the Pew Research Center, Migration Policy Institute, Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, Cato Institute, and American Enterprise Institute assessed labor, fiscal, and social outcomes. Reported metrics covered employment rates among recipients, tax contributions recorded by the Internal Revenue Service, educational attainment linked to institutions like the University of California system and California State University, and health coverage interactions with programs such as Medicaid where state rules applied. Surveys by polling organizations like Pew Research Center, Gallup, and Rasmussen Reports measured public opinion, while think tanks such as Center for Immigration Studies provided contrasting analyses.

Legal Challenges and Litigation

Litigation involved plaintiffs and defendants including state attorneys general like Ken Paxton and federal officials represented by the United States Department of Justice. Notable cases and judicial bodies included proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, decisions by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and orders from the United States Supreme Court. Legal arguments referenced administrative law precedents and doctrines considered by jurists such as Antonin Scalia (deceased), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (deceased), John Roberts, and litigants represented by firms like ACLU affiliates and private firms. Executive actions and memos by officials including Jeh Johnson and DHS Secretaries prompted challenges and injunctions affecting program continuity.

Political Debate and Legislative Responses

Debate over the initiative spurred proposals in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives from lawmakers including Marco Rubio, Chuck Schumer, John McCain (deceased), and Lindsey Graham. Legislative packages such as the Dream Act variants and bipartisan proposals encountered opposition and support across caucuses including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and coalitions like the House Freedom Caucus. Presidential campaigns by figures such as Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Jeb Bush articulated positions on the program, while state-level lawmaking in places like California State Legislature and Texas Legislature produced related measures.

Administration and Implementation

Operational administration relied on United States Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices, directives from Department of Homeland Security secretaries, and policies crafted in consultation with advocacy groups including American Immigration Council and Immigration Hub. Implementation required coordination with federal databases maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Social Security Administration for vetting, and engagement with employers such as Amazon, Starbucks Corporation, and Costco Wholesale Corporation that hired recipients. Nonprofit and faith-based organizations including Catholic Charities USA and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service provided outreach and legal assistance during application windows.

Category:Immigration to the United States