DACA

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is a federal program that allows immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as minors before 2012 to earn conditional renewable legal status if they meet a number of requirements. DACA has faced legal battles in the federal courts over the constitutionality of how it created in 2012 through executive order. In 2017 President Trump rescinded DACA, but said that DACA had been beneficial and called on Congress to re-enact it through legislation. In 2020 the Supreme Court ruled that Trump's rescinding of DACA was illegal and allowed the program to stand, however the program's future is uncertain as it continues to face legal battles in federal courts. DACA recipients are also referred to as Dreamers, a term originating from the DREAM Act. Dreamer may also refer to unauthorized immigrants who do not qualify for DACA because they were brought to the US illegally after 2012.