The State of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Where It Stands and Where It’s Headed

Organizers and allies of the immigrant youth movement recently marked the 14th anniversary of securing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections, which at one point shielded nearly 800,000 people from deportation. Today, however, the program’s future is far from secure. DACA faces mounting renewal delays, ongoing litigation, and shifting federal policies that have left recipients in an increasingly unstable position.

More than half of the half-million active DACA recipients have grown up to become parents, meaning their current legal uncertainties directly impact their young children. Currently, roughly 240,000 U.S. citizen children have at least one parent who is a DACA recipient.

Immigrant advocacy and legal aid groups recently sued the federal government, demanding answers about the delays and their impact on recipients’ jobs, livelihoods, and legal status. This funder briefing will provide a clear, up-to-date picture of DACA’s legal status, the human toll of processing delays, and what it means for grantmaking strategies in the immigrant rights movement.

Who may attend:
Staff and board members of foundations, corporate-giving programs, philanthropic consultancies, affinity groups, and invited governmental grantmaking agencies.