Lawmakers request definition from Homeland Security Department
More than 30 Democratic and independent senators have formally asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a clear explanation regarding the current status of recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The request follows recent official statements that raised questions about the scope of protections granted under the initiative.
Understanding DACA and its scope
Established in 2012, DACA was designed to provide temporary protection from deportation for individuals who arrived in the United States as children before 2007. Today, the program covers nearly half a million people. While participants can obtain renewable work permits every two years, DACA does not grant permanent residency or an automatic pathway to citizenship.
Ongoing debate over policy interpretation
In a recent communication, DHS stated that DACA recipients are not automatically shielded from deportation and emphasized that the program does not confer legal status. Senators criticized this position, noting that DHS’s own guidelines specify that those under deferred action are not considered unlawfully present during the protection period.
Public opinion and legislative efforts
Polling over the past five years indicates that a majority of Americans support establishing a legal pathway for so-called “Dreamers.” In Congress, the DREAM Act has been introduced multiple times, aiming to provide permanent legal status. However, the bill has faced mixed bipartisan support over the years.
Current outlook
Official data shows that about 500,000 individuals from more than 150 countries are part of DACA, with most recipients originally from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Although many are in their 20s and early 30s, some recipients are in their late 30s and 40s. The future of the program remains a central issue in ongoing political and legal debates in the United States.
