NewsFlash! Trump Terminating DACA Program

This morning, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that President Trump is terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Trump will be “winding down” the program over the coming months.

Background on DACA

Beneficiaries of DACA, popularly referred to as “dreamers,” are undocumented aliens who were brought to the United States as children. The DACA program was implemented in 2012 by then President Obama as a means of providing temporary travel and work authorization to qualifying individuals and to shield them from being removed (i.e. deported).

Details on Phasing Out of DACA

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not accept new DACA applications filed after today, September 5, 2017, but will continue to process applications filed prior to today. Current beneficiaries of DACA will be able to continue to use their respective work and travel documents until the documents expire. Further, those whose DACA documents are scheduled to expire by March 5, 2018 may apply by October 5, 2017 for two-year renewals.

Conclusion

Today’s news is hardly surprising, given the rhetoric and prior actions related to immigration from the Trump Administration. It remains to be seen whether Congress will take any action to try to provide some accommodations for these dreamers.

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