Trump Administration Announces End to DACA

Under President Donald Trump’s direction, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, established by the Obama administration, has been formally rescinded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Effective September 5, DHS will immediately halt processing any new DACA program applications. However, until March 5, 2018, DHS will consider renewing permits for individuals whose DACA status is set to expire before then. DACA permits, when issued, are good for two years.

Congress could potentially use this six-month grace period to enact legislation of its own that will ensure the continuation of DACA or offer other protections to individuals enrolled in the program. However, there is some concern on Capitol Hill that this may be difficult given current existing tensions in Congress over passing health-care legislation, raising the debt ceiling (which expired in mid-March), agreeing on a federal FY18 budget, funding Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, and enacting tax reform.

Many higher education associations, including NACUBO, came together recently to express support for DACA to the Trump administration and simultaneously urged congressional leaders to pass legislation that would offer support to so-called “Dreamer” individuals if DACA was rescinded. NACUBO will be working with other higher education associations in the coming months to offer guidance to campuses in this post-DACA era and will continue to urge lawmakers to pass much-needed legislation to protect the newly vulnerable DACA population.

Related Reading

• Comfort Zones, Business Officer Magazine, January 2016
  Recruiting immigrant students, legally documented or not, raises issues of cost, culture, and respect.
• Supreme Court Hands Down Two Decisions with Higher Education Implications, NACUBO Current