Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

On June 15, 2012, President Obama announced that DHS would no longer remove certain young immigrants under an executive order now known as DACA.

DACA’s purpose, as explained by President Obama, is to “[stop] expel[ling] talented young people, who … [have] been raised as Americans; understand themselves to be part of this country … [and] who want to staff our labs, or start new businesses, or defend our country.”

DACA is a form of “deferred action”, a discretionary grant of authorized stay by the Federal Government.   Deferred action granted through DACA is valid for two years and is subject to renewal for an additional two years.

DACA mandates that persons who are granted “deferred action” will be eligible to obtain an EAD, a federal work permit, and a Social Security number.  In other words, those granted “deferred action” and in possession of an EAD are legally authorized to work in the United States.

As of March 31, 2016, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has approved over 1.3 million initial and renewal requests for DACA

DACA recipients are not the only class of immigrants who may not meet Wells Fargo’s alienage requirements.  Wells Fargo’s imposed condition for entering into a lending contract impacts large segments of the U.S. population who do not have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency including individuals who have been granted temporary residence, refugee, asylee, or fiancé/e status and survivors of severe forms of trafficking and serious criminal activity for whom Congress has provided visas. Wells Fargo’s policy also discriminates against survivors of severe forms of trafficking and serious criminal activity for whom Congress has provided visas.