Join host jim justice as she brings you stories from DACA recipients. DACA means Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival. It is a federal program that was implemented in September of 2012 through a proclamation by then President Obama. He had pushed Congress to pass an immigration reform bill, but was unsuccessful in that, so he started it through a Presidential proclamation. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival means that since September 2012, undocumented immigrant students who were under age 16 when they arrived and arrived in the United States before June 15, 2007, were eligible to apply for "deferred action" from being deported if they were stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They could NOT have left the US since they arrived. They could apply when they were at least age 15, if they under age 31 on June 15, 2012. They were basically required to stay in school to at least finish high school. This DACA permit also granted them status for two years to remain in the US without being deported and included a work permit. It had to be renewed every two years.
President Trump is ending the program and at present no more may apply. Those who currently have their DACA will have valid work permits and DACA until their expiration date. If their DACA expires between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018, they may renew NOW with their renewal application arriving at USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) BEFORE Oct. 5, 2017. The cost for each DACA permit is $495. Many think of them as "Dreamers", but that also refers to those who are of age and meet other criteria, but didn't arrive in the US in time.
Listen to their stories and the story of one student who arrived in the United States one month AFTER the deadline date for arrival in the US in order to apply for DACA.
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