Connecticut DACA Applicants Granted Deportation Reprieve

According to a recent Brookings Institute report, approximately 2,100 (69%) of the 3,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applicants in Connecticut have been granted provisional legal status. The DACA program provides undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children 1) a temporary deportation suspension and 2) work authorization.  (It does not provide applicants with permanent legal status.)

According to the report, United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved approximately 72% of DACA applications and denied slightly less than one percent since the program began a year ago. USCIS is currently reviewing the remainder of the applications.

In order for USCIS to grant deferred action, the applicant must:

• have (1) arrived in the U.S. before age 16 and (2) continuously resided in the U.S. without legal status since June 15, 2007;
• be under age 31 as of June 15, 2012 and at least age 15 at the time of application;
• be currently enrolled in school, have graduated high school or obtained a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran; and
• have not been convicted of a felony or multiple or serious misdemeanors and not pose a threat to national security or public safety.

A Connecticut Mirror article has more information about the report.