What is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) ? How US decision to terminate DACA will affect the immigrants?

DACA provides protection to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children & lacked legal status. This program protects such immigrants from deportation & grant them a two-year relief which can be extended by issuing work permit and a Social Security number. Recipients of DACA need to satisfy several requirements, including clear criminal record. Also, Such immigrants must have been 30 or younger at the time of launch of DACA and brought to the US before age 16. DACA does not provide legal US residency; it only provides the reprieve from deportation while being allowed to legally work. The large majority of DACA recipients are from Mexico.
Recently US administration decided to terminate DACA. With the termination of DACA, such undocumented immigrants would face deportation at the discretion of the administration. DACA recipients who were employed in a variety of professions, will not be able to work legally in the United States. Immigrants who are already enrolled in DACA remain covered until the expiration of the permit. Many DACA beneficiaries will now be forced to take lower-wage, under-the-table jobs.
DACA is different than the “Dream Act” which has not been passed. Provisions of “Dream Act” provides a pathway to legal residency or citizenship. The repeated failure of US to pass the “Dream Act,” has now put the life of such immigrants in jeopardy.

Topics: GS-II: Developed Versus Developing Countries Indias Interests