Featured Issue: Citizenship and Protections for Dreamers and Others Without Permanent Status
Many immigrants who lack permanent legal status have lived in the United States for years, investing in their communities and families, building businesses, and contributing billions to the economy. Polls show Americans support granting permanent legal status for unauthorized immigrants and people with temporary status. Four out of five (80%) of Americans support granting permanent legal status to Dreamers. AILA urges Congress to provide a path to citizenship for people who are undocumented or whose legal status is temporary.
On December 4, 2025, Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced the Dream Act of 2025. In response, Executive Director Ben Johson said:
“At a time when immigration is often cast as a divisive issue, the American people are remarkably united: four out of five Americans believe Dreamers are part of the fabric of this nation and deserve a real path to citizenship. Congress and the President must seize this moment. Passing the Dream Act is not only the right thing to do; it is a critical first step toward providing long-overdue stability and dignity to people who have strengthened our communities and contributed to our country for years, yet still have no meaningful way to secure permanent legal status.”
AILA supports the following bills and urges Congress to introduce and enact them into law.
- The Dream Act of 2025 S.3348 - Durbin (D-IL) and Murkowski (R-AK)
- Read Senator Durbin’s press release on the bill’s reintroduction
- The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 H.R.1589 - Garcia (D-TX)
Protecting DACA and TPS Recipients
On June 15, 2012, DHS announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided temporary protection from deportation (deferred action) for certain undocumented youth. Since its creation, DACA has protected over 830,000 people who are valued members of our communities and contribute to the strength of the nation. From day one, the DACA program was challenged in court and still hangs in the balance. The President should defend and expand DACA and other legal pathways to protect Dreamers and other populations who still do not have permanent status.
AILA urges President Trump to use executive branch authorities to protect and expand legal pathways for undocumented immigrants, DACA and TPS recipients, and others with a temporary status.
Browse the Featured Issue: Citizenship and Protections for Dreamers and Others Without Permanent Status collection
Remote Pro Bono Work in the Midst of a Pandemic
Jacqueline Shi, AILA member and member of the AILA National Pro Bono Committee, shares how attorneys continue to provide pro bono services to vulnerable immigrant communities during the pandemic by using technology and innovation.
MALDEF Files Lawsuit Alleging That Acting DHS Secretary Wolf’s DACA Memo Is Unlawful
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to enjoin and vacate Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf’s July 28, 2020, memo imposing changes to the DACA program. (Santa Fe Dreamers Project, et al., v. Wolf, et al., 9/3/20)
AILA Quicktake #291: USCIS Issues Guidance on DACA to Implement DHS Memo
On August 21, 2020, USCIS issued guidance on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program implementing the memo issued in July 2020 by Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. Kate Voight, AILA’s Senior Associate Director of Government Relations, summarizes key points from the guidance.
USCIS Issues Guidance on Implementing DHS Acting Secretary’s July 28, 2020, Memorandum on DACA
USCIS provided guidance on how it will implement DHS Acting Secretary’s 7/28/20 DACA memo. Among other things, USCIS will reject all initial DACA requests from individuals who have never received DACA and will limit grants of deferred action and employment authorization to no more than one year.
DHS Will Reject Initial Requests for DACA, Limit Renewals to One Year
DHS Acting Secretary Wolf issued a memo rescinding the 2017 and 2018 memoranda that rescinded DACA. Pending reconsideration of the DACA policy, DHS will reject all initial DACA requests, reject new and pending requests for advanced parole, and limit the period of renewed deferred action to one year.
AILA: Trump’s Wind-Down of DACA Once Again Throws Dreamers’ Lives into Turmoil
AILA President Jennifer Minear and AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson respond to the Trump administration announcement that it will begin to wind down legal protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients while it conducts a review of the program.
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland Orders DHS to Restore DACA
Judge Paul W. Grimm in the Maryland District Court vacated DACA’s rescission and enjoined DHS from implementing or enforcing the rescission and from taking any other action to rescind DACA that is not in compliance with applicable law. (Casa de Maryland, et al., v. DHS, et.al., 7/17/20)
AILA and Partners Urge Senate Leaders to Extend Work Authorizations to Dreamers
AILA joined 182 national and local partners in urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to include automatic extensions of employment authorization for DACA, TPS, and other work-authorized immigrants in the fourth COVID-19 legislative package.
Senators Urge DHS to Reopen DACA for New Applicants
On July 14, 2020, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) led a letter from 33 senators urging DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to reopen DACA applications for new applicants following the Supreme Court’s rejection of the administration’s rescission of DACA.
AILA Urges President Trump to Leave the DACA Program in Place
On July 11, 2020, the Coalition for the American Dream, which includes AILA, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to leave the DACA program in place and refrain from taking any additional administrative actions that would negatively impact the program.
U.S. Conference of Mayors Urges the President and Congress to Protect Dreamers
On July 9, 2020, the U.S. Conference of Mayors published an open letter to the President urging to maintain DACA and Congress to pass legislation that would provide Dreamers with citizenship.
CRS Report on Unauthorized Childhood Arrivals, DACA, and Related Legislation
CRS updated its report on legislative activity in Congress related to unauthorized childhood arrivals, including the original Dream Acts in the 107th and 108th Congresses, establishment of DACA in 2012, and DACA since 2017.
Stooping to A New Low – USCIS Statement Throws Constitution Out the Window
AILA Member Matt Maiona highlights a recent outrageous USCIS statement in response to the SCOTUS DACA ruling, which showcases the dire need for agency reform, writing, “Perhaps now more than ever, government institutions must strive to restore the faith of Americans in the integrity of government.&#
AILA and Partners Call on DHS and USCIS to Immediately Reinstate DACA
One hundred and fifty-five organizations, including AILA, sent a letter urging DHS and USCIS to immediate reinstate DACA, including accepting initial applications and granting advance parole. The letter also calls on DHS and USCIS to work with the Senate to pass the American Dream and Promise Act.
Breaking Update: You Can Still Help DACA Clients
The Supreme Court found DACA was not properly canceled, giving us an unexpected and well-deserved reprieve. But this will naturally send DACA clients to their lawyers, so we offer these tips for strategizing and communicating with DACA clients about their future options.
Supreme Court Upholds DACA, Says DHS’s Decision to Rescind Was Arbitrary and Capricious
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that DHS’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, also known as DACA, was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. (DHS v. Regents of the University of California)
AILA Celebrates Supreme Court’s DACA Decision, Calls for Permanent Protection
AILA applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision blocking the rescission of DACA. The decision underscores the incredible importance of our nation’s foundational principle of separation of powers and the need for accountability in government agency actions.
AILA Quicktake #288: U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Rescission of DACA Program
Jeremy McKinney, AILA's First Vice President, provides a brief analysis of SCOTUS's decision to reject the Trump Administration's rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
CRS Releases Legal Sidebar on Supreme Court’s DACA Decision
CRS released a legal sidebar on the Supreme Court’s decision in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California that the reasoning DHS offered in support of its decision to rescind DACA was inadequate and therefore violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
Documents Related to DHS v. Regents of the University of California
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that DHS’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, also known as DACA, was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. (DHS v. Regents of the University of California)
BIA Reopens Proceedings Sua Sponte for DACA Recipient to Adjust Status
Unpublished BIA decision reopens proceedings sua sponte for DACA recipient who was married to a U.S. citizen and the beneficiary of an approved visa petition. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Sanabria Rosales, 6/17/20)
Immigrants Rising Releases Report Analyzing a Decade of Legal Intakes From Undocumented Immigrants
Immigrants Rising released a report analyzing ten years of legal intakes for almost 3,000 undocumented immigrants. Among other things, the report found that 21 percent of respondents were potentially eligible for permanent relief, and that 93 percent would be eligible for relief under the Dream Act.
Prepping for the Next Debate: Where the Candidates Stand on Immigration
Greg Chen and Cara Pavlak highlight the positions of the Democratic presidential candidates on immigration and encourage readers to use the AILA 2020 Election Guide, and the accompanying social media toolkit, to engage on immigration during the debate.
USCIS Releases Report on Arrest Histories of Individuals Who Requested DACA
USCIS released a report with data on arrests and apprehensions of individuals who requested DACA. Note: this data may include arrests that did not result in convictions or where the charges were dropped or dismissed.
DREAMERs Hope: Fate of DACA at the Supreme Court
AILA Member Faye Kolly describes the cases the U.S. Supreme Court will hear November 12, 2019, relating to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and urges support for permanent protection for DREAMers, writing “While the Supreme Court decision is important, it is not a solution.&