Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA/DAPA)

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an immigration option for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before the age of 16. Although DACA does not provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence, it does provide temporary protection from deportation, work authorization, and the ability to apply for a social security number.

As a supporter of immigrant youth, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) has long advocated for policies to benefit the undocumented community. Through this work, the ILRC developed the only comprehensive manual on the topic, DACA: The Essential Legal Guide. We conduct trainings and provide technical support to immigration practitioners assisting individuals in the application process, and advocate at the federal level for a broadly inclusive DACA program.

Latest in DACA

What Qualifies as a Conviction for Immigration Purposes?

03/05/2018

Immigration law has its own definition of what constitutes a criminal "conviction." Because most, although not all, immigration consequences require a conviction, if your client does not have a conviction the immigration case might be saved. This Advisory discusses which dispositions that come out of criminal court actually constitute a conviction for immigration purposes, and how to avoid a...

DACA FAQs (March 2018)

03/02/2018

Recent government announcements and court cases on DACA have created confusion around who can apply, when they can apply, and how they can apply for DACA. To mitigate this confusion, here is an informational FAQ for your reference. Please note that DACA cases are still pending in the courts, and information is changing. As of March 2018, the DACA program is still partially available and will...

Successful DACA Renewal Applications under New USCIS Guidelines: Response to January 2018 Court Decision

01/17/2018

On January 9, 2018, a federal court ruled that while a lawsuit decides whether the termination of DACA was unlawful, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must continue to accept renewal applications. This is guidance on who is eligible to apply at this time. Please note, as the lawsuit moves forward, this advice may change.

Understanding DACA Renewals (January 2018 Infographic)

01/17/2018

This infographic outlines who is eligible to renew DACA, documents needed, and resources available. Please check back for translated versions.

DACA Rescission Case Summary: A Legal Summary of Regents of Univ. of Cal. V. Dep’t of Homeland Security

01/10/2018

On January 9, 2018, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an important ruling on the termination of the DACA program. The court granted plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction, putting the rescission of the DACA program on hold until a final determination is made in the case. The court ordered USCIS to resume accepting DACA renewal applications. This resource...

DACA