Abstract
Recent federal immigration policy has focused on individuals who were brought to the U.S. by their guardians. In June 2012, former President Barack Obama signed an executive order to implement Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, widely known as DACA. DACA is organized to allow individuals who came to this country as children with an opportunity to apply for temporary legal status in the United States. Individuals who are "DACAmented" are able to attend a postsecondary institution and have the right to work. This document provides a brief overview of DACA, the implications for educational organizations, and offers advice on how to respond to the current unsettled situation. Definitions of key terms related to these students, and a timeline tracing the evolution of DACA are provided. The protections set up through DACA provide a meaningful way for children who were brought to the United States with little legal protection or opportunity to cobble together a productive life for themselves. The provisions of DACA are short term however, and an individual must reapply every two years. The authors contend that now is the time to develop a long-term pathway to citizenship that allows these individuals to stay in the United States, contribute to the country's tax base, and further develop the knowledge economy. Educators, in general, and those in colleges and universities, in particular, have a particular obligation.