Friday marks the 13th anniversary of the implementation of DACA—Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

For more than a decade, this program has provided hundreds of thousands of young immigrants, all of whom came to the U.S. as children, with the chance to live, work, and contribute to their communities without the constant fear of deportation. While DACA has changed lives, it has always been temporary, and its future remains uncertain. On this milestone, we honor the resilience of DACA recipients, reflect on the opportunities it has created, and recognize the urgent need for a permanent solution.

What is DACA?

It’s a policy created by President Obama in 2012 that gives certain undocumented people, who came to the U.S. as children, temporary protection from deportation and permission to work legally. The average DACA recipient arrived in the United States at age seven and has lived here for more than 20 years.

To qualify, applicants had to meet strict rules: they must have arrived before age 16, lived here since June 15, 2007, have a clean criminal record, and be in school, have graduated, or served in the military.

What DACA Does (and Doesn’t) Do

DACA is not a path to citizenship. Recipients, often called Dreamers, must renew every two years. They can get a work permit, a Social Security number, and in most states, a driver’s license. But they can’t access most federal benefits like Medicaid or food stamps, even though they pay taxes.

Why It Matters

While an estimated 3.6 million Dreamers live in the U.S., only about 533,000 currently have protection through DACA. These recipients are teachers, nurses, engineers, business owners, and more, many of whom came here as toddlers and know the U.S. as their only home. Losing DACA could mean losing their jobs and being at risk of deportation to countries they don’t remember.

Dreamers also make a powerful economic impact. Collectively, they contribute about $65 billion in wages each year and pay nearly $18 billion in federal, payroll, state, and local taxes—funds that help support schools, roads, health care, and other vital public services. A permanent legislative solution wouldn’t just protect individuals, it could add hundreds of billions of dollars in wages and tax revenue over the next decade, strengthening communities across the country.

The Future of DACA

The program has faced years of court challenges. New applications are currently blocked due to ongoing lawsuits, but existing recipients can still renew. Advocates are pushing Congress to pass permanent protections.

For 13 years, DACA has been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants. Its anniversary is both a celebration of resilience and a reminder that true stability will only come through congressional action.

Across the country, DACA recipients live with constant uncertainty as their futures are decided from one court case to the next. Without action from Congress, hundreds of thousands of young people could be torn from their families, communities, and workplaces, causing profound harm to their lives and to the U.S. economy.

DACA recipients deserve the chance to remain in the only home they have ever known.

United We Dream Resources for DACA Recipients

2024 Findings: What’s at Stake for Recipients and the United States – Center for American Progress

Current Status of DACA Explainer from – National Immigration Forum