Community Corner

DACA Program Gives Conn. Kids the Gift of Time

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has postponed the deportation of 2,127 undocumented Connecticut children in its first year.

This article was written by Jayme Kunze

More than 2,000 Connecticut children have been given more time to pursue their dreams in America, the CT Mirror reports.

A total of 3,069 undocumented children in the state have sent in applications to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an effort to postpone deportation for immigrant children. So far, 2,127, or 69 percent, of the Connecticut applications have been approved, the Mirror reports.

The program, spearheaded by the Obama administration one year ago, does not give the children legal status, but allows them to stay longer in the country and gives them the right to work in the U.S., according to the CT Mirror.

To qualify, applicants must:
  • Have come to the U.S. before his or her 16th birthday.
  • Be between the ages of 15 and 31 (as of June 15, 2012) at application.  Younger children may be granted an exemption.
  • Have continuously resided in the United States without legal status since June 15, 2007
  • Be currently enrolled in school, have graduated high school or obtained a general development certificate (GED), or be an honorably discharged veteran
  • Have not been convicted of a felony or multiple or serious misdemeanors and not pose a threat to national security or public safety
Nationwide, more than 435,000 undocumented children applied to DACA with nearly 75 percent of those approved. Read the full story on the CT Mirror website.


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