• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
LeadershipDACA

Everything to Know About DACA as the Trump Administration Tries to Shut It Down

By
Grace Donnelly
Grace Donnelly
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Grace Donnelly
Grace Donnelly
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 6, 2017, 3:21 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

It’s been about a day since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump Administration’s decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The announcement was met with some very strong reactions, including 400 U.S. CEOs.

So what now? Here’s everything you need to know and look for as plans to discontinue the DACA program unfold.

What is DACA?

The DACA program allows young men and women, who were brought to the United States illegally as children to stay if they meet some basic requirements. It was conceived as a way to protect young people who have grown up in the United States and allow them to contribute to the economy and the country without the threat of deportation.

When was DACA passed?

The Obama Administration put the program in place in 2012. After urging Congress to draft a policy to protect young undocumented Americans during his first term, President Obama bypassed the legislature and created the program through an executive order. On Facebook Tuesday, Obama’s DACA statement condemned the decision to end the program, calling it “wrong,” “self-defeating,” and “cruel.”

Who does DACA affect?

There are nearly 800,000 “Dreamers” — young people who are currently protected by the program and most of whom came to the U.S. from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Under DACA, Dreamers could apply for two-year work visas that prevent them from being deported.

In order to be eligible for the DACA program, someone needs to have arrived in the U.S. before they were 16 years old, lived in the country since June 15, 2007, and have been under 30 years old when the policy was enacted. The program allows these individuals to apply for driver’s licenses, enroll in college, legally find jobs, and pay income taxes.

New applications for visas under DACA are no longer being accepted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Department of Homeland Security says it will only process initial work visa applications, first-time DACA program applicants, if they were accepted on or before Sept. 5, 2017. People who already have a 2-year work visa through DACA that’s set to expire before March 5, 2018 they have until Oct. 5, 2017 to submit their renewal paperwork.

This will not work the same way as college applications or taxes — if you get your envelope postmarked the same day as the deadline you’re in the clear. DHS will only process renewal applications that it receives and accepts before Oct. 5.

Why did Trump end DACA?

This decision will appease the president’s far-right base of supporters by fulfilling his campaign promise to end the DACA program and enact more nationalist, America first immigration policies. With this announcement, the White House shifted responsibility for the future of DACA to Congress, allowing president Trump to take a more hands-off approach to deporting young people and their families.

It’s worth noting that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) have urged Trump not to end the program.

When does DACA expire?

No one currently protected under the DACA program will be affected prior to March 5th, 2018, according to the Trump Administration. This gives Congress six months to put legislation in place to continue granting work visas to Dreamers. If lawmakers can’t agree on a new solution during this very busy congressional session, DACA recipients could be at risk of deportation as early as March.

Current estimates are that the decision to end the program could cost the U.S. economy $280 billion and 700,000 jobs. Several states, including New York and Washington, promised to sue the federal government if DACA protection was rescinded.

The business community also voiced support for the program and the young people under its protection over the weekend. The 400 business leaders who spoke out yesterday, including CEOs at Amazon, Apple, AT&T, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, signed a letter saying that Dreamers are “vital to the future of our companies and our economy” and are “part of why we will continue to have a competitive global advantage.”

About the Author
By Grace Donnelly
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Leadership

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
SuccessWealth
Defense tech investors thought the war in Iran could make them millionaires. Instead, they faced a Wall Street bloodbath
By Preston ForeJuly 25, 2026
39 minutes ago
An 11-year-old is cleaning his neighbors’ trash cans for $10 each—he now has 100K followers as teens face the worst summer job market since 1948
SuccessCareers
An 11-year-old is cleaning his neighbors’ trash cans for $10 each—he now has 100K followers as teens face the worst summer job market since 1948
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 25, 2026
1 hour ago
What it’s like to be a founder of the most high-stakes startup ever, OpenAI
AIOpenAI
What it’s like to be a founder of the most high-stakes startup ever, OpenAI
By Alyson ShontellJuly 25, 2026
2 hours ago
SpaceX may have missed its window to buy Tesla
Big TechTech Companies
SpaceX may have missed its window to buy Tesla
By Shawn TullyJuly 25, 2026
3 hours ago
alex
CommentaryEntrepreneurship
I sold my startup for millions without a single dollar in revenue. Here’s why that’s the point
By Alexander Kardos-NyheimJuly 25, 2026
4 hours ago
woman yellow shirt standing in front of ring light
SuccessSocial Media
Influencer marketing isn’t an experiment anymore as companies expand their creator advertising budgets
By Tatiana SatauaJuly 24, 2026
15 hours ago

Most Popular

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
Economy
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
By Eleanor PringleJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Tech
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Economy
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.