Undocumented Immigrants, D.A.C.A., and DREAMers: What is the Difference?
There are several terms thrown around that refer to individuals in the country without legal status. U.S. immigration law is always evolving and changing, and because of this, there are nuances as to what terms actually mean and who they apply to.
Immigrating to the United States and obtaining legal status is a notoriously difficult and complex objective to accomplish. Having an attorney’s help can make the process move along more smoothly and help individuals understand what pathways exist for their specific situation.
If you would like assistance meeting your U.S. immigration goals, Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. offers customized and comprehensive U.S. immigration solutions. You may call Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. today to speak with an experienced and resourceful Atlanta immigration attorney.
Understanding Who Undocumented Immigrants, D.A.C.A. Recipients, and DREAMers Are
A person who enters the country without proper authorization or who overstays their visa is considered an undocumented immigrant. While the actual number of undocumented immigrants living in the country is not fully known, a report out of the Center for Migration Studies found that for those undocumented immigrants that are known, most are in the United States as a result of overstaying the amount of time their temporary visa allowed for.
A Pew Research Center study examined an American Community Survey and found that the most recent data shows that the unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. was around 11 million people. People come from all over the world for a plethora of different reasons, but the countries where the most undocumented immigrants come from are Mexico, Central and South America.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (D.A.C.A.) provides a temporary stopgap to give some amount of interim relief to people who were brought to the country at a young age. It was signed through a presidential memorandum by President Barack Obama in 2012 and applies to children who were 15 years old or younger before 2007 when they were brought to the U.S. and not older than 31 by 2012.
D.A.C.A. is not a means for undocumented immigrants to obtain lawful permanent residency. Rather, it shields undocumented immigrants from being targeted for priority deportation if they are not committing crimes in the country. It also defers deportation for young undocumented immigrants under certain circumstances.
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act, was meant to allow undocumented immigrants who meet eligibility under specific criteria to be protected from deportation and give them a pathway to obtain lawful permanent residency. The DREAM Act was proposed in 2001, and several versions have been brought up since then. The most recent being in 2019. However, this version did not make it to the Senate floor to be voted on. As a result, the DREAM Act has never officially been passed by Congress.
Speak with an Atlanta Family Immigration Attorney Today
For a consultation to discuss your needs and case, please call Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. today at 404-523-3611. One of our Atlanta, GA, immigration lawyers is here for you and ready to help.
Source:
pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/
