A small step towards a long-due overhaul of American immigration:
In August 2012, the Administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, initiative went live. Since then, more than 500,000 eligible applicants have applied for temporary relief from deportation – called deferred action. The program, aimed at undocumented persons who came into the U.S. before the age of 16, provides approved applicants with authorization to work legally in the U.S. With employment authorization, applicants are able to come out of the shadows, to apply for drivers licenses, to enter the work force and to otherwise pursue their educational and vocational goals.
DACA has been a positive step for immigration reform in this country. But it is a small step, and a temporary fix. It offers no legal status and provides relief for only a fraction of the undocumented persons in this country.
More needs to be done to address the glaring deficiencies in today’s immigration law. In June 2013, the Senate passed a bill which offered a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, addressing such issues as family-based backlogs, border security, visas for job creators, retaining talent in the U.S., temporary work permits and legalizing the undocumented. But this bill has been stalled, mostly due to wrangling within the House leadership. If immigration reform is going to become a reality, Congress will need to hear the voices of concerned citizens. Don’t wait: contact Congress today to voice your support for DACA and for comprehensive immigration reform.