In June 2012, the Department of Homeland announced that young people who were brought to the United States as young children, and meet certain key criteria, will be considered for the relief of removal from the country, or from entering into removal proceedings.
Young people who can demonstrate they meet the criteria, may be eligible to receive deferred action (DACA) for a period of three years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization.
THE FIRST STEP: Review the criteria for deferred action (DACA) to determine if you are eligible for consideration.
Since ASSET and DACA both affect Colorado’s undocumented youth, it’s easy to confuse the policies. Here’s how they impact one another:
- ASSET is a state law that affects the cost of attendance at Colorado public higher education institutions only; it does not affect immigration status or lawful presence. DACA is a federal policy set by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department that allows qualifying young people to apply for a renewable, three-year period of deferred action and work authorization.
- Students who qualify for ASSET do not automatically qualify for DACA, and vice versa. A student may qualify for ASSET or DACA only, qualify for both or qualify for neither.
College In Colorado does not provide guidance on eligibility for DACA. However, you may use the following resources to assist you to determine your eligibility and to complete an application.
Understanding DACA Eligibility
DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines, may request consideration of deferred action for a period of three years, subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization.
To understand whether you may be eligible for DACA, please review the criteria for deferred action.
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College In Colorado has prepared resources and materials for ASSET that you can order for your school.
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Find Colorado ASSET resources and materials available to help you, your colleagues, and students.