In 2012, President Barack Obama issued an executive branch memorandum initiating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA permitted qualifying aliens unlawfully present in the United States, who entered as children, to apply for and obtain deferred action. This group of aliens are also referred to as “Dreamers.” Deferred action is a limited immigration benefit granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to certain individuals unlawfully present in the United States. DHS makes a discretionary determination not to pursue enforcement, removal and/or deportation against them for a specified period of time.

If approved for DACA, a qualified alien would receive an employment authorization document (EAD) valid for two years; obtain a social security number; obtain lawful employment; be obligated to file tax returns and pay taxes; and in certain states be entitled to obtain a driver’s license. DACA approval does not confer any legal immigration status nor does it provide a path to citizenship. As discussed below, DHS suspended the filing of all new DACA applications and most renewal applications in October, 2017. The following refresher on the DACA program provides a reminder of the parameters of the program.

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