The US federal DACA program’s low application rate, especially among Asian Americans, is alarming lawmakers and community leaders, according to the Asian Journal.
The DACA program allows undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before age 16 to temporarily work and reside legally in the US.
“DACA is an opportunity for those who are eligible to come forward and start a process that will help them achieve peace of mind, so that they can access resources for higher education, gain protection under labor laws at the jobs they work hard at every day, and so much more,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif), who represents California’s 27th district.
Community groups, however, are concerned about the low registration rate for DACA by the country’s estimated 1.5 million undocumented Asian immigrants. Currently only 2.6 percent have actually enrolled. Chu believes the number should be closer to 8 percent.
To learn more about DACA, and the impact of an order from a Texas judge blocking DACA, visit the Asian Journal.
