Summary

Protects information submitted by people who applied for DACA by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to keep individual DACA application information confidential and prohibiting referrals of deferred DACA cases to ICE, CBP, the Department of Justice, or local law enforcement except in limited, specified circumstances. Narrow exceptions permit sharing for fraud detection, certain national security concerns tied to an application, or to investigate or prosecute non-immigration felony crimes.

Key Points

• Requires DHS to keep individual DACA application information confidential and limits sharing.
• Prohibits referrals of deferred DACA applicants to ICE, CBP, DOJ, or local law enforcement based only on DACA application information.
• Permits limited sharing for fraud detection, national security concerns tied to an application, or non-immigration felony investigations/prosecutions.
• Defines key terms including what counts as DACA program materials and 'individual application information' (post-June 15, 2012 submissions).
• Focuses on data handling and referral policy; does not create new immigration status changes, benefits, or funding.
• Requires DHS to adjust policies and training to ensure compliance with the new disclosure and referral limits.
• May increase trust among eligible applicants in submitting DACA requests by reducing fear of routine enforcement referrals.

Categories & Tags