DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents)
Last updatedWhat to know
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) was a program announced by President Obama in 2014 with the goal of granting non-status immigrant parents of American citizens or lawful permanent residents a “deferred action” status, giving them the option to apply for a three-year renewable work permit and exemption from deportation.
In 2015, more than 3 million migrants would have been eligible for the program; however, in 2016, Texas and 25 other states sued to block the program from going into effect, and it was never introduced. In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded the DAPA program. If mentioning the program, some explanation of its parameters and non-active status provides helpful context.
Additional resources
- Deferred Action for Parents (DAPA) (National Immigration Law Center)
- Defending DAPA and Expanded DACA Before the Supreme Court (American Immigration Council)
- Kelly revokes Obama order shielding immigrant parents of US citizens (Washington Post)
Summary
DAPA was a planned policy granting parents of American citizens or lawful permanent residents deferred action status. It was blocked from going into effect and eventually rescinded. If mentioning the program, some explanation of its parameters and non-active status provides helpful context.