The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, or DACA, will be facing a moment of truth in coming weeks as a showdown over the program looms. The program was started in 2012 by executive order by President Obama as a way to protect individuals who were brought to this country illegally, but at a very young age.
Individuals can apply for protection under the DACA program if they can prove that they were brought to this country when they were younger than 15 years-old, that they are employed, have a HS diploma, and have a clean criminal record. There are also several other conditions that need to be met.
President Trump announced the discontinuation of the program last September and gave Congress six months to come up with a solution. Democrats want a pathway to citizenship for those here illegally and Republicans want border security in the form of a wall. President Trump has made it clear that he would not agree to a permanent solution for DACA recipients without agreement from Democrats on funding for the border wall. That funding will be essential to the negotiations on capitol for government funding which are set to take place this month.