About DACA

What is DACA?

Established in 2012 as an executive order, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a type of administrative relief from deportation for eligible undocumented immigrants who arrived to the U.S. as children. DACA essentially grants program recipients: 1) protection from deportation, and 2) a work permit. The program expires after two years, subject to renewal. 

Due to recent federal policy changes, the DACA program is not currently open to new applicants. Only current DACA recipients are eligible to renew their documentation. 

 

Notable DACA updates

Since the Fall of 2017, DACA has been subject to various changes.

  • January 4, 2021 - USCIS provided the court a status report on DACA with information about the applications for DACA and for advance parole that were received, adjudicated, approved, denied, and rejected between November 14 and December 31, 2020, as well as the applications previously affected by the July 2020 Wolf memo.  The information above was from: dacaclassaction.org.  

  • January 19, 2021 — As a result of an order by a U.S. district court in the Eastern District of New York, on December 7, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting initial DACA applications, DACA renewal requests, and applications for advance parole from DACA recipients. 

    • Since then, USCIS has mailed notices to individuals whose requests for DACA were approved for a one-year period, informing them that their current period of deferred action and their employment authorization document (EAD) have been automatically extended from one year to two. USCIS distributed guidance, including for employers, making clear that the extended EADs should be treated as having a two-year expiration date for all purposes for which EADs are used, including eligibility for state services and for employment eligibility verification. USCIS also mailed notices to individuals who submitted first-time applications for DACA or applications for advance parole, and whose applications were rejected as result of the unlawful July 2020 memo issued by Chad Wolf curtailing DACA. The information above was from: dacaclassaction.org 

  • July 16, 2021 – A federal district court judge in Texas declared the DACA program unlawful. Although individuals eligible for DACA may continue to submit applications, the federal government is now prohibited from granting DACA to any new applicants. If you already have DACA, this court order does not cancel or otherwise terminate your DACA or work authorization. For now, renewal applications for recipients of DACA will continue to be processed and adjudicated. If you currently have DACA or are eligible for DACA, we recommend that you consult with an immigration lawyer to discuss your options. The information above from: dacaclassaction.org 

 

Renewing Your DACA

Extensive research from credible organizations like the National Immigration Law Center and United We Dream was conducted to provide the information on this page, but the information below is not intended as legal advice.  For guidance regarding your DACA status and information on renewals, please click on the various drop-down menus below.

For More Information
For More Information 

For more information about the status of DACA, you can contact us or visit the following organizations: 

Extensive research from credible organizations like the National Immigration Law Center and United We Dream was conducted to provide the information on this page, but the information above is not intended as legal advice.  

Should you renew your DACA?

  • If you previously had DACA and it has expired, you are can and you should definitely renew your DACA as soon as possible. 

  • If you currently have DACA and it expires in less than 150 days, you can and you should renew your DACA as soon as possible. 

  • If you currently have DACA and it DOES NOT expire in less than 150 days, you can renew your DACA. It is up to you whether you should renew now or wait but be aware that various trusted organizations like the National Immigration Law Center and United We Dream encourage every past or current DACA recipient, regardless of expiration date, to renew their DACA as soon as possible because there is a lot of uncertainty around the future of the DACA program.

  • If you have received legal citations, been arrested, or been criminally charged or convicted since initially receiving DACA, you must gather evidence of these contacts with law enforcement or the courts. If you had contact with law enforcement or the courts and are unsure how to move forward with your DACA renewal, you should speak to a lawyer before undergoing the DACA renewal process. 

  • If you are still unsure about whether you should renew your DACA at this moment in time, it is highly recommended that you consult with an immigration attorney. 

  • For a list of local, affordable, and credible legal resources, please click here. 

 
What do you need to renew your DACA?

 Generally, people wanting to renew their DACA will need: 

  • DACA renewal forms 

  • Prior DACA application (preferred to better assist you or person helping you in filling out renewal paperwork) 

  • $495 renewal application fee 

  • If you have received legal citations, been arrested, or been criminally charged or convicted since initially receiving DACA, you must gather evidence of these contacts with law enforcement or the courts. 

  • For more information about the DACA renewal process, you can visit the following accredited organizations: 

Here is a guide to assist with Renewing your DACA:

  • There are step-by-step renewal guides like United We Dream's DACA Renewal Guide if you are comfortable renewing your DACA on your own. 

  • If you are unfamiliar with the DACA renewal application process, it is highly recommended that you consult with an immigration attorney or paralegal to renew your DACA. For a list of local, affordable, and credible legal services that help with DACA renewals, click here. 

Need Financial Assistance with Your DACA Renewal?

DACA Loan Programs

*Information above was sourced from the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition webpage