DACA Marks 14 Years as Advocates Push for Continued Support

Today marks the 14th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the immigration program established under the Obama administration that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for eligible undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.

Advocates say the program has created educational and career opportunities for thousands of recipients nationwide, though many still face uncertainty surrounding renewal delays and the cost of maintaining legal work permits.

At the TODEC Legal Center in Coachella, staff say they continue offering free immigration legal services for DACA renewals.

The nonprofit also operates a donation-funded assistance program to help eligible recipients pay filing fees required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

They say many families continue struggling financially, making support services especially important for DACA recipients trying to maintain legal protections and employment authorization.

Advocates add that while the anniversary marks an important milestone, the push for long-term stability and certainty for DACA recipients continues.