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Standard Operating Procedure: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
(2013)
Abstract
In Fall 2012 I filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request with DHS seeking records pertaining to the agency's implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, among other items. DHS provided me with a formal response on March 4, 2013. I received roughly 406 readable pages of internal memoranda and guidance used by DHS to implement DACA. Specifically, the FOIA Request yielded: • National Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, prepared by Service Center Operations Directorate, September 13, 2012 (p. 1-140 with Appendices) • Training Module for Immigration Officers about DACA • Training Module on Responding to DACA Related Requests through the Service Request Management Tool The FOIA response illustrates that DHS has invested significant resources to train adjudicators responsible for processing DACA applications. Thus, the transparency that DHS has shown to the public through “FAQs,” stakeholder calls, and monthly statistical updates appears to be matched by a meaningful training program that frankly, I have not seen with the general deferred action program. The response itself elaborates on many of the core eligibility requirements for DACA; sheds some light on some to-date ambiguous terms such as “national security,” “exceptional circumstance,” educational and travel requirements; and provides some templates and assessment tools for scenarios such as a “rejection” or a “denial.” The FOIA response also includes information about the cases which are automatically given “supervisory review” when a denial is recommended internally.
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring 2013
Citation Information
Shoba S Wadhia. "Standard Operating Procedure: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)" (2013) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/shoba_wadhia/19/