For the thousands of college students who were brought to the United States illegally as children by their parents, President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, provided temporary shelter.
The program, which has allowed nearly 800,000 such immigrants to work and study here for two-year renewable terms since 2012, protected those young people from deportation. But because the program only deferred action and was the result of a presidential memo, not congressional legislation, it was vulnerable to being rescinded by another president.
Here are Chronicle articles that provide background, context, and depth on the history of the program and its participants.
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NewsU.S. Supreme Court Weighs DACA’s Fate as Immigrants Rally Outside
At oral arguments in a landmark case, the justices appear to be leaning toward letting the Dreamers’ protection expire. -
News
Colleges Can’t Completely Shield Undocumented Students if DACA Lapses. Here’s What They Can Do.
Anxiety and frustration hang above undocumented students and the faculty and staff members who are trying to support them. -
News
Trump Will End DACA in 6 Months, Confirming Dreamers’ Fears and Putting Onus on Congress
A program that has given some 800,000 undocumented immigrants a chance to attend college, work, and build lives in the United States will be phased out after a delay to give Congress a chance to come up with a legislative fix. -
Administration
What Major Universities Had to Say About Trump’s Move to Roll Back DACA
Colleges were virtually unanimous in their condemnation of the administration’s action. Some also outlined under what circumstances they would share students’ information with authorities. -
Students
As a Challenge to DACA Looms, Participants Brace for a Battle
Rumors are swirling that President Trump may end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, as some state attorneys general threaten to sue over it. -
News
Why It’s So Hard for Undocumented Students to ‘Fix’ Their Status
Some people question why such students don’t obtain permanent legal residency. The answer? It’s extremely difficult. -
News
Trump Will Continue DACA for Now, Though Immigrant Students Still Wonder About Its Future
The administration’s move to keep one Obama-era program while formally ending another left questions about whether those actions could disrupt families of undocumented immigrants. -
Students
In a Secret Classroom in Georgia, Immigrants Learn to Hope
Freedom University offers them a path to college in a state where they are banned from several top universities.
