While DACA protects an individual from removal action for a certain period of time, it does not provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship, and people with DACA status previously were ineligible for any federally funded health coverage.
Having an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766/EAD) is one way to prove that you are authorized to work in the United States for a specific time period. To request an EAD, you generally must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
With DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), you are able to get a two-year employment authorization document (EAD) and legally work without sponsorship. TPS (Temporary Protected Status) recipients can also get an EAD.
What happened: On January 17th, 2025 the 5th Circuit Court once again ruled against DACA, but kept renewals open–for now. This ruling is part of ongoing, deliberate attacks to undermine immigrant communities, limit opportunities, and enable mass deportation.
One of the main benefits of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) is the work permit that comes with it. Your employer cannot discriminate against you because you are working under DACA protection.
If you are already in the U.S. on an EAD, you may be eligible to adjust your status to a permanent resident by filing Form I-485 with USCIS. This step is typically done after your petition is approved and a visa number is available if you're in a category that requires you to wait for one.
DACA recipients are still protected from deportation as long as they continue to renew their status on schedule, ing to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which has been representing DACA recipients in the legal challenges.
To allow applicants to have a legal avenue to work and earn a living while waiting for their green cards, the USCIS can issue them an EAD, which serves as temporary authorization to work. An EAD issued for this purpose will automatically expire the moment the applicant receives their green card.
If you are currently a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient and are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you may be eligible for a marriage-based green card of your own. This guide can help you understand your options, based on the most common situations.
The DACA program took root in 2012, through an Executive Order during President Barack Obama's administration, as a way to provide temporary relief (renewable 2-year terms) from deportation and work authorization for certain individuals who came to the United States as children.