A June 15 Department of Homeland Security memo states that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will remain in effect. The memo, for the most part, is concerned with rescinding an Obama administration initiative for undocumented parents of citizens or legal residents and an extension of the DACA program. Neither was ever implemented because they were blocked by a federal court. The last line of the memo affirms the continuation of the original DACA program, which started in 2012.
Though the president and others in the administration have made several comments hinting that DACA recipients were not a priority for deportation, this is the first time that the administration has officially indicated that the program would remain in effect. Continuation of DACA has been a top priority for community colleges and AACC. AACC applauds this positive step and will continue to advocate for a permanent, legislative solution that puts Dreamers on a path to citizenship.