Should the U.S. Continue the DACA Program?
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is an Obama administration policy implemented on June 15, 2012. DACA prevents the deportation of some undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children and allows those immigrants to get work permits. The undocumented immigrants who participate in the program are referred to as Dreamers, a reference to the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) that was first introduced in the Senate on Aug. 1, 2001 by Orrin Hatch (R-UT) but did not pass. For more on DACA, explore the ProCon debate.
PRO (yes)
Pro
“Dreamers are Americans. Many have spent the majority of their lives in the United States. They are our doctors, our teachers, and our small business owners. Dreamers strengthen our economy, enrich our workplaces, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, many served their communities on the frontlines…. My Administration is committed to providing Dreamers the opportunities and support they need to succeed. That’s why in April I announced a plan to expand health coverage for DACA recipients, and directed the Department of Homeland Security to ‘preserve and fortify’ DACA.
While Vice President Harris and I will continue fighting to pass legislation to protect Dreamers and create a path to citizenship, only Congress can provide permanent and lasting stability for these young people and their families. Congress must act to protect our Dreamers.”
-White House, “Statement from President Joe Biden on the Anniversary of DACA,” whitehouse.gov, June 15, 2023
CON (no)
Con
Editors’ Note: On Sep. 5, 2017, the Trump administration ended DACA. The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that the decision to end the program was “done in an arbitrary and capricious manner,” and that the program must be restored. Trump had previously expressed conflicting opinions on DACA.
-Sources for Editors’ Note: Homeland Security, “Rescission Of Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA),” dhs.gov, Sep. 5, 2017
National Immigration Law Center, “ALERT Supreme Court Overturns Trump Administration’s Termination of DACA,” nilc.org, June 22, 2020