Understanding the New Immigration Remedy of "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" and How This May Be Helpful for Immigrant Survivors

On August 15, 2012 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This is a new policy which permits individuals under the age of 31, who arrived to the U.S. before the age of 15 and currently have undocumented legal status, to apply for deferred action if they meet certain criteria. Although this remedy is not specific to survivors, it is important for domestic violence/sexual assault programs to be familiar with this remedy and make sure survivors are aware of this option. While DACA is not a pathway to permanent legal status, it is a very important remedy that can help those who qualify be able to proactively seek protection from deportation and apply for work authorization. If someone is not eligible to apply for a VAWA self-petition or U visa, this could be a very important option.