For nearly a decade, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program provided relief to undocumented youth brought to the United States as children. Nearly one million young people benefited from DACA, which offered temporary protection from deportation and work authorization. However, current students are increasingly unable to access these protections due to ongoing legal challenges and eligibility requirements that have not been updated.
Recent actions by the current administration have further affected immigrant communities, including those who previously received DACA protections. This has added uncertainty and hardship for many individuals who grew up in the United States but remain undocumented.
Alex, a graduate student at California State University who immigrated as a toddler, described his experience with frustration: “It was almost like the system was taunting me.” In 2017, when he became eligible to apply for DACA at age 15, the program was rescinded before he could submit his application. By 2020, Alex had been accepted into several colleges and offered a full scholarship to Harvard University. He declined this opportunity because of concerns about travel restrictions tied to his immigration status and instead attended a local University of California campus.
The limitations of DACA’s reach continue to impact undocumented students who aspire to higher education and greater opportunities in the U.S., leaving many without clear options for their future.
