Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a United States immigration policy initiated during the Obama administration, announced on June 15, 2012, by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It provides temporary protection from deportation and work permits to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, often referred to as 'Dreamers.' The policy allows eligible individuals who entered the U.S. before age 16, have continuously resided in the country since June 15, 2007, are under 31 years old as of that date, meet educational or military service requirements, and have no serious criminal record to apply for renewable two-year periods of deferred action. DACA does not confer legal immigration status but offers practical protections, enabling recipients to live and work legally in the U.S. without fear of immediate removal. As of recent data, over 800,000 individuals have benefited from DACA, significantly impacting communities by allowing access to education, employment, and driver's licenses in participating states.

DACA has faced significant legal and political challenges since its inception. In 2017, the Trump administration attempted to rescind the program, leading to multiple lawsuits and court injunctions that have preserved its core elements. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the rescission was arbitrary and capricious, blocking the termination. However, initial applications remain paused due to ongoing litigation, with only renewals being processed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Critics, including organizations like the Federation for American Immigration Reform, argue it oversteps executive authority, while supporters hail it as a vital humanitarian measure. The program's future remains uncertain, with legislative efforts like the DREAM Act repeatedly failing, though President Biden has pushed for permanent protections.

Administered by USCIS under DHS, DACA represents a key example of prosecutorial discretion in immigration enforcement. It has broader implications for advocacy groups, legal challenges, and bipartisan political debates. Economically, DACA recipients contribute billions to the U.S. economy through taxes and labor, with studies showing positive fiscal impacts.