In a potentially life-changing move, the federal government is preparing to reopen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to new applicants — allowing hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people brought to the U.S. as children a chance to live and work legally in the country.
During a legal proceeding in Texas, attorneys for the Department of Justice and immigrant advocates jointly presented a plan to restart DACA applications — a program originally initiated under the Obama administration that has granted renewable two-year protections from deportation and work permits for eligible individuals. However, in a major exception, the plan includes a work permit ban specifically for recipients residing in Texas, due to ongoing litigation filed by the state against the program.
What Is DACA and Who Qualifies?
DACA provides undocumented immigrants — often referred to as “Dreamers” — a pathway to work and live without the constant threat of deportation. To qualify, applicants must:
- Have entered the U.S. before their 16th birthday.
- Have lived continuously in the country since June 15, 2007.
- Have been under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.
- Not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors.
Although DACA does not provide a pathway to citizenship, it has empowered over 500,000 individuals with a chance to contribute to American society — working legally, attending school, and building their lives.
What’s Changing Now?
While the program has been frozen to new applicants since 2021, this new proposal could re-open the doors. The U.S. District Court in Texas is reviewing the proposal and is expected to rule in the coming months. If accepted, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would resume processing both new and renewal applications — except that recipients in Texas would not receive work permits.
Advocates for immigrants are pushing for a “wind-down period” for Texans currently in the program, allowing one final work permit renewal to ease the transition and avoid immediate job loss.
This cautious return to DACA comes after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier agreed to allow the program to continue — with the Texas restriction.
Advocates Urge Preparation, But Remain Cautious
Legal groups and immigration advocates are hopeful, but not yet celebrating. “We’re asking our communities to start preparing documents, just in case the program officially reopens,” said Michelle Celleri, Legal Rights Director for Alliance San Diego.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, an estimated 1.1 million people in the U.S. could qualify for DACA. That’s on top of the more than 533,000 already enrolled.
Still, some remain wary due to increasing immigration enforcement against DACA recipients. “We need to see the bigger picture,” said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento of United We Dream. “While this proposal is hopeful, we’re also witnessing detention and deportation of DACA recipients. We can’t ignore that.”
A Moment of Hope for Many
While nothing is finalized yet, this development offers a glimmer of hope to thousands of undocumented individuals — many of whom have known no other home but the United States. They are students, workers, and community members who want nothing more than to contribute and belong.
As the legal process unfolds, one thing remains clear: real people — not just policy — are at the heart of this issue. Their futures hang in the balance.
