DACA program faces new pressures under Trump administration

Fourteen years after its creation, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is navigating one of its most precarious moments. Established in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama, DACA provided a shield against deportation and work permits for young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children.

Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, who came to the U.S. from Brazil at age 14 and is now an activist with United We Dream, stated that 'Dreamers' are being targeted by the government. The Trump administration has detained hundreds and deported dozens of DACA beneficiaries, asserting that the program offers no protection against expulsion. This stance marks a shift from Trump's first term, where attempts to end DACA were blocked by the Supreme Court.

“

the 'dreamers' are being persecuted by the government.

Currently, nearly 495,320 individuals are active DACA beneficiaries, with the majority hailing from Mexico, followed by Guatemala and Peru. The program's legality has been a persistent issue. While the Supreme Court blocked an earlier attempt to terminate DACA in 2020, legal disputes continue. In January 2025, a federal court again ruled parts of the program illegal, though current beneficiaries can still renew their status as the case progresses.

Data from January to November 2025 reveals that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 261 DACA recipients and deported 86. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that DACA does not prevent deportation and has encouraged beneficiaries to "self-deport." Furthermore, the administration has reportedly restricted DACA recipients' access to subsidized healthcare and certain state educational aid, intensifying the pressure on these individuals.

“

This Administration has taken a different approach than in its first term. The first time they tried to end DACA outright and saw the reaction; this time they are wearing it down little by little.