If original DACA program is a guide, many eligible immigrants will apply for deportation relief BY JENS MANUEL KROGSTAD AND ANA GONZALEZ-BARRERA - PEW REASEARCH CENTER About 4 million unauthorized immigrants are eligible for temporary deportation relief under President Obama’s new executive action, but how many will take advantage of the offer? A previous program may offer some insights. One way immigrants may qualify for relief is under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivalsprogram, which started in 2012 and is now expanding. In that program, applications surged after the program’s launch and trailed off over time. Today, nearly two-thirds (64%) of the estimated 1.1 million unauthorized immigrants who are eligible have had their applications accepted for review. DACA offers deportation relief and work authorization to those who came to the U.S. as children. So far, about 702,000 unauthorized immigrants have had their applications accepted for review since the program began in August 2012, according to recently released U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data showing program applications, approvals and renewals through Sept. 30, 2014. Of the applicants, 87% have been approved for the renewable two-year permits. With the first wave of permits beginning to expire, the government is starting to receiverenewal applications. So far, more than 22,000 of the initial DACA recipients have had their applications for renewal approved. President Obama’s new executive action expands DACA to an additional 330,000 unauthorized immigrants, by making eligible those older than 30 who arrived in the U.S. as children before Jan. 1, 2010. Previously, the program was restricted to those 30 and under who were brought to the U.S. as children before June 15, 2007. A $465 application fee remains in place. Applications reached a high in the first full quarter DACA was available, then dropped off steeply. The number of applications peaked from October to December 2012 when...
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:00:09 +0000
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