Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) Explained

Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) was an immigration policy introduced by the Obama administration in 2014. The purpose of DAPA was to provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to certain undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States since 2010 and have children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Legal Challenges and Current Status

Shortly after the announcement of DAPA, the policy faced legal challenges from several states. In 2015, a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction blocking the implementation of DAPA, arguing that the Obama administration had overstepped its authority. The case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which, in a 4-4 deadlock in 2016, effectively upheld the lower court’s injunction, preventing DAPA from being implemented.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Trump administration announced the rescission of DAPA in June 2017, effectively terminating the policy. As of 2024, DAPA remains inactive, and there have been no further developments or plans to revive the policy.

Eligibility for DAPA

To have been eligible for DAPA, an individual must have:

• Lived continuously in the U.S. since January 1, 2010
• Had a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident child as of November 20, 2014
• Been physically present in the U.S. on November 20, 2014, and at the time of making the DAPA request
• Had no lawful immigration status on November 20, 2014
• Not been convicted of certain criminal offenses or pose a threat to national security or public safety

Comparison to DACA

While DAPA shared some similarities with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, such as providing temporary protection from deportation and work authorization, the two policies targeted different populations. DACA focused on young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, while DAPA aimed to provide relief to parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Final Thoughts

Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) was an immigration policy that sought to provide temporary relief to certain undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. However, due to legal challenges and political opposition, DAPA never took effect and was ultimately rescinded. As of 2024, there are no active plans to revive or implement a similar policy.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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