DACA recipients arrested as DHS toughens enforcement
AP reports federal agents arrested DACA recipient Yaakub Vijandre at his Dallas-area home in early October as the Trump administration steps up enforcement, with DHS stating DACA does not automatically shield recipients from deportation. DHS alleged Vijandre’s social media glorified terrorism—claims his attorney says are protected speech—and advocates say about 20 DACA recipients have been detained since January, while a 5th Circuit ruling to deny DACA work permits in Texas awaits implementation details before a federal judge.
📌 Key Facts
- DACA recipient Yaakub Vijandre was arrested by federal agents at his Dallas-area home in early October.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said DACA confers no legal status and recipients are not automatically protected from deportation.
- Advocacy coalition Home is Here counts about 20 DACA arrests/detentions since January; a 5th Circuit ruling this year would bar DACA work permits in Texas pending court-directed implementation.
📊 Relevant Data
As of September 30, 2024, there were roughly 538,000 active DACA recipients in the U.S.
Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — KFF
Over one in four (28%) active DACA recipients reside in California, and 22% reside in Texas.
Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — KFF
DACA recipients are young, with the majority under age 36, and over half are female.
Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — KFF
Approximately 79.4% of active DACA recipients are from Mexico, 3.7% from El Salvador, 2.6% from Guatemala, and 2.3% from Honduras.
Approximate Active DACA Recipients: Country of Birth — USCIS
DACA is associated with increased wages among U.S.-born workers with little to no decrease in their employment in labor markets with high DACA-eligible populations.
Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — KFF
Nearly 110,000 DACA requestors out of nearly 889,000 (12%) had arrest records, with offenses including immigration violations, drug crimes, and driving-related offenses.
USCIS Releases Report on Arrest Histories of Illegal Aliens who Request DACA — USCIS
DREAMers had an incarceration rate of 0.98 percent in 2015 compared to a native-born incarceration rate of 1.12 percent.
The DREAMer Incarceration Rate — Cato Institute
From fiscal year 2013 through 2017, 2,130 DACA recipients had their eligibility terminated due to criminal or gang activity.
The Data on DACA and Crime — FactCheck.org
Elimination of the DACA program could have negative economic and workforce impacts, as DACA has reduced unemployment rates and allowed DACA recipients to pursue higher education and higher-paying jobs.
Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — KFF