DACA/DAPA

The enforcement of immigration laws is a complex and hotly-debated topic. Learn more about the costs of immigration enforcement and the ways in which the U.S. can enforce our immigration laws humanely and in a manner that ensures due process.

Recent Features

  • Fact Sheet

The Dream Act, DACA, and Other Policies Designed to Protect Dreamers

This fact sheet provides an overview of the Dream Act  and other similar legislative proposals, explains changes made to DACA on March 13, 2019, and provides information about policies at the state level that support Dreamers.

  • Fact Sheet

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: A Q&A Guide

Here's what you need to know about the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) initiative, including eligibility requirements and important information on process and timing.

All DACA/DAPA Content

  • Blog

Understanding Justice Kennedy’s “Upside Down” Argument in U.S. v. Texas

April 20, 2016

By Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, faculty scholar and law professor at Penn State Law-University Park. On April 18, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas, a case...

  • Blog

Digesting the Argument in U.S. v. Texas: What Is Lawful Presence and Why Does It Not Mean What It Sounds Like?

April 19, 2016

The oral argument in United States v. Texas shined a light on the confusion between the term “lawful presence” and what it means to have a legal immigration status in the United States. Early in...

  • Blog

Supreme Court Considers President’s Executive Actions on Immigration While Thousands Rally Outside

April 18, 2016

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas. While lawyers presented their arguments before the eight Justices inside, on the outside families, advocates, immigrants, faith...

  • Blog

What You Need to Know About the DAPA and Expanded DACA Case Before the Supreme Court

April 11, 2016

In the spring of 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider United States v. Texas, a politically charged lawsuit about the legality of some of President Obama’s executive actions on immigration....

  • Blog

Texas and Other 25 States File Misleading Brief at Supreme Court

March 30, 2016

This week, Texas and the 25 other states challenging the President’s executive actions on immigration filed their brief with the Supreme Court in United States v. Texas. The brief attempts to...

  • Blog

Steve King’s Committee Continues Attack on President’s Immigration Actions

March 15, 2016

This week, the newly created “Task Force on Executive Overreach” and its Chairman Steve King (R-IA) held a sparsely-attended hearing on President Obama’s executive actions on immigration,...

  • Blog

Georgia Board of Regents Sued for Limiting Immigrant Students’ Access to Higher Education

March 14, 2016

The Georgia Board of Regents is being hauled into court, once again, over its highly-controversial policies that limit young immigrants’ access to higher education. The Mexican American Legal...

  • Blog

Hundreds of Groups Weigh in on Immigration Case Headed to Supreme Court

March 8, 2016

A diverse coalition of 326 immigration, civil rights, labor, and social service groups filed an amicus (friend-of-the-court) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court today in United States v. Texas,...

  • Blog

Who Would Benefit from DAPA?

March 4, 2016

Within the next few months, the Supreme Court will determine whether the President’s deferred action initiatives announced in November 2014—namely, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and...

  • Blog

Obama Administration Files Brief in Immigration Case at Supreme Court

March 3, 2016

This week, the Obama Administration filed its brief with the Supreme Court in United States v. Texas, the case where Texas and 25 other states are challenging the President’s executive action on...

  • Blog

Supreme Court Issues Disappointing Split Decision in United States v. Texas

June 23, 2016

The Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision in United States v. Texas, the case challenging expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and...

  • Press Release

Supreme Court Issues Disappointing Split Decision in United States v. Texas

June 23, 2016

Washington D.C. - Today, the Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision in United States v.

  • Blog

On the Four-Year Anniversary of DACA, It’s Clearly Working

June 15, 2016

On June 15, we celebrate the benefits of the four-year anniversary of President Obama’s Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. Since DACA was first announced in 2012, it has...

  • Blog

These Anti-Immigrant Organizations Are Behind the Effort to Derail Executive Action on Immigration

June 13, 2016

The tentacles of the modern anti-immigrant movement in the United States extend far and wide, but they emanate from a single source: John Tanton—a white nationalist trying his hardest to ensure...

  • Blog

Judge Hanen Halts Order That Would Have Revealed Personal Information of DACA Recipients

June 7, 2016

Judge Hanen halts his order that would have the Department of Justice (DOJ) turn over personal information of about 50,000 individuals who have received three-year reprieves from deportation and...

  • Blog

Administration Seeks to Protect DACA Recipients from Judge Hanen’s Unusual Order in Immigration Case

June 2, 2016

This week, the Obama administration filed a stay motion, a request to halt Judge Hanen’s highly extraordinary order in May telling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to turn over personal information...

  • Blog

Judge Hanen’s Recent Unwarranted Order in United States v. Texas

May 24, 2016

Last week, District Court Judge Andrew Hanen issued a highly extraordinary order telling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to turn over personal information of about 108,000 or so individuals who...

  • Blog

How Some States Are Leading the Way on Immigrant Integration

May 5, 2016

Several notable developments took place in states across the U.S. over the past several months in 2016. In California, several recently passed immigration-related laws–collectively known as the “...

  • Blog

Texas’ Distorted View of the Legal Basis for DAPA and Expanded DACA

April 27, 2016

On April 18, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas, a case brought by 26 states to challenge President Obama’s deferred action initiatives, known as expanded...

  • Blog

What Are the Next Steps at the Supreme Court in U.S. v. Texas?

April 21, 2016

The oral arguments in U.S. v. Texas are now complete and dozens of news articles and analyses have attempted to predict what the Court will decide. However, all that truly matters is the final...

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