The Biden Administration’s Current Connection To DACA

      On September 27th, 2021, information from the Biden Administration was released, stating that plans were being processed to recreate policies/criteria for one of the main immigration programs worldwide. First, what is DACA? The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was made for children who were illegally brought to the US by their parents and allows for deportation protection as well as the possibility to obtain a work permit, social security number, and a driver’s license. Some individuals have been wary for many years about illegal immigration, fearing that drugs and criminals would make their way past the border into the US. Immigration programs such as DACA help to perform adequate background checks for individuals who were illegally immigrated for various reasons.

      The immigration policies were put in place to ensure that people under the age of 16 were eligible, and had no records of criminal activities. Adults who previously entered the US as children are referred to as “Dreamers”. Recently, current President Joe Biden attempted to strengthen the DACA program, making an executive order when he took office. Unfortunately, the effort took a heavy hit when the Senate’s parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, ruled against Democrats’ plan to provide 8 million green cards. This was part of the government’s $3.5 trillion spending bill, which was partly to be used for the Democrat’s immigration reform process.

      The DACA program has faced previous opposition. Such as July 2021, when a federal district judge from Texas ruled that DACA’s 2012 program was a violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. Another example of opposition from others was in 2017 when former US President Donald Trump sought to terminate the program altogether. President Biden’s full plans on how to salvage the program are yet to be completed and fully released.

Cassius Naclerio, October 10th, 2021