DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which is a USA immigration policy that was introduced by President Barack Obama in 2012. The policy provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to eligible undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
To be eligible for DACA, individuals must have arrived in the United States before their 16th birthday, and must have lived in the country continuously since June 15, 2007. They must also meet other requirements such as having no serious criminal record and being enrolled in school or having graduated or obtained a GED.
DACA recipients, often referred to as "Dreamers," are able to apply for a work permit and a Social Security number which allows them to legally work in the United States. However, DACA does not provide a path to permanent residency or citizenship.
In September 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would end the DACA program, but this decision was later blocked by multiple federal court injunctions. As of now, the DACA program is still in effect, but its future is uncertain and subject to ongoing legal challenges.