Dear John,

The Biden Administration has proposed a Federal Regulation on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals—DACA. This Federal Regulation is one needed response to court decisions attacking current DACA status. The proposed Federal Regulation falls short of what can and must be done to “preserve and fortify” DACA. 

You can file a comment telling the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to do better for Dreamers! The 60-day comment period on the new DACA rule closes TODAY: November 29, 2021. 

DACA is a federal policy offering limited protection to some undocumented migrants who came to the United States as children and have lived here continuously since before 2007. DACA offers limited protection from deportation, permission to work, and a limited status that allows the individual to enroll in college and get a driver’s license. DACA does NOT provide any pathway to become a permanent legal resident or citizen.  

As part of implementing new  Federal Regulations, the government is required by law to receive, review, and respond to comments from the public about the potential impact of the rule. The 60-day comment period on the new DACA rule closes TODAY: November 29, 2021. Organizations and individuals can comment on this rule. Anyone can comment, regardless of legal status.  

File a comment telling the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to do better for Dreamers!  

We know that DACA alone has never been enough. DACA is a federal policy offering limited protection to some undocumented migrants who came to the United States as children (“Dreamers”) and have lived here continuously since before 2007. DACA offers limited protection from deportation, permission to work, and a limited status that may allow the individual to enroll in college and get a driver’s license. DACA does NOT provide any pathway to become a permanent legal resident or citizen.  

The undocumented community needs permanent relief from the violence, cruelty, and inhumanity of deportation. Dreamers need permanent protection of a pathway to citizenship, not just a continuation of undocumented status with DACA protection. But until Congress acts to create that pathway to citizenship, stronger and broader DACA protection is crucial.  

File a comment telling the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to do better for Dreamers!  

Begin your comment by explaining who you are and why you care about DACA. Some of the suggested “asks” in a comment are: 

1. Set a higher age limit and a later date for eligibility. Right now, DACA is available only to Dreamers who were present in the United States by 2007 and are under the age of 35.  
2. Require notice and a chance to respond before any DACA grant is terminated.  
3. Requiring a separate application for work authorization could make a simple DACA application less costly but also creates a risk that immigrant youth receiving DACA might believe that even without the separate step of work authorization they could work. In Minnesota, the work authorization document is essential for getting a state ID or a driver’s license. If a change is made, that needs to be very clearly communicated. Those who work without authorization because of the confusion of this policy change should not have their DACA terminated nor face any other immigration-related penalties.  

Want more information? Go to the United We Dream website. Be sure to personalize your comment, even if you use this one-click option.  

However you choose to comment, file a comment TODAY telling the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to do better for Dreamers! 

In solidarity,