Updated Information on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program

16 Jan 2018    

Updated DACA Information

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently posted an advisory reinstating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  This reinstatement is the result of a recent federal court decision that prevented USCIS from ending DACA, at least for the time being.  A copy of the federal court order can be found at  https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4345906/1-9-18-DACA-Opinion.pdf.

 The full advisory reinstating the DACA program can be found on the USCIS web site at:  https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-response-january-2018-preliminary-injunction.

The following individuals are eligible to reapply for DACA:

  1. Those who otherwise meet the guidelines of the original DACA program.  Those requirements can be found here: https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/s1-exercising-prosecutorial-discretion-individuals-who-came-to-us-as-children.pdf.

  2. Those who had previously been granted DACA.  Individuals who have never received DACA before cannot now apply.  However, those who previously received DACA before can apply for it again, provided they meet the original program eligibility guidelines, even if their DACA status has already expired.  The USCIS advisory divides those eligible to reapply into two categories:
  • Individuals whose DACA status expired on or after September 15, 2016.  Those individuals should file their applications asrenewal applications.
  • Individuals whose DACA status expired before September 15, 2016.  Those individuals should file their applications as “initial requests.”

The USCIS web site has links to the forms and instructions necessary to complete both renewal and “initial request” applications.  Those who wish to apply should do so quickly, since the federal court litigation is ongoing and it is unclear how long USCIS may be required to accept applications.