DACA/DAPA
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) offer certain immigrants protection from immediate deportation and other benefits. Learn more about these policies, how they affect America, and our work to strengthen them below.
The Dream Act Could Add Millions to Your Congressional District
Current and former recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative are asking Congress to recognize the impact they and other Dreamers have on the United States, and to subsequently pass legislation that protects them from deportation and places them on a path to citizenship. One of… Read More
The Senate Has Confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen as Secretary of Homeland Security
This afternoon, the United States Senate confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen to be the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As Secretary, she will oversee an ever-growing agency which includes the enforcement and services functions of immigration, airport security, disaster relief, the Secret Service, and more. During her confirmation… Read More
Dreamer Movement Gains Support as Deadline for a Legislative Solution Approaches
A growing coalition is voicing its support for finding a permanent, legislative solution for the young immigrants thrown into limbo with the recent termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. With more and more Dreamers losing their status by the day, a groundswell of support is… Read More
Senate Releases Homeland Security Funding Bill as Battle Over the Dream Act Looms
With the deadline for government funding fast approaching, the Senate Appropriations Committee finally released its draft version of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) funding bill—and Congress is feeling the pressure. Not only does Congress need to pass a bill by December 8 to keep the government open, but some… Read More
USCIS Will Now Consider the DACA Applications That Got Lost in the Mail
When a slowdown with the U.S. Postal Service caused over 100 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals renewal applications to arrive after the October 5 deadline, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said there was nothing it could do—the rejection was final. But in a reversal announced on Wednesday night, USCIS… Read More
DACA Termination Affects Thousands on a Daily Basis
In the months following the government’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, more than 8,500 young immigrants have already lost their protection from deportation. Without DACA, immigrants who have been in the country since they were children lose protections that have enabled them to… Read More
American Immigration Council’s Statement on President Trump’s Immigration Principles
The White House released its long anticipated, "Immigration Principles and Policies," which lay out many of the already-stated aspirations of the Trump administration on immigration. The laundry list represents a wholesale attack on immigration and immigrants. It includes not only limits on immigration generally, but enables mass deportations and envisions bypassing necessary procedures that protect children and asylum seekers. Read More
USCIS Reveals Nearly 25 Percent of Eligible Dreamers Did Not Submit Their Renewal Application on Time
Now that the arbitrary deadline for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals has passed, approximately 36,000 young immigrants are in danger of being deported. New data from United States and Citizenship Services (USCIS) reveals that roughly one-quarter of all eligible, former DACA recipients did not submit their application… Read More
White House Immigration Principles Are Released as DACA Deal Looms
The White House released its Immigration Principles and Policies late Sunday night, providing an outline of the Trump administration’s proposals on immigration. The principles were sent to Congressional leadership with a cover letter demanding these reforms be included in any legislation that addresses protection for Deferred Action for Childhood… Read More
As the DACA Renewal Deadline Approaches, 50,000 Dreamers May Face Deportation
With the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) renewal deadline fast approaching, thousands of young immigrants are scrambling to have their paperwork in by October 5 for a final, two-year extension. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has estimated that nearly 50,000 Dreamers have so far not submitted… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.