#DefendDACA

 In 2012 Obama responded to calls for immigration reform by enacting an executive order to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. Under DACA qualifying undocumented immigrants could obtain legal work permits, and driver's licenses, and were granted temporary deportation relief. However on September 5, 2017, during the Trump administration, DACA was deemed unconstitutional and a misuse of executive power. This led to a pause on any DACA renewals and uncertainty for those who currently hold DACA status. 

Many who relied on or supported DACA took to social media using the #DefendDACA and shared their personal stories. Social media users hoped to spread awareness of the benefits of DACA and sway legislation votes to keep DACA. Those who shared their stories quickly gained a following and even landed on the cover of Times Magazine. 

The current fate of DACA is still uncertain as many courts are contesting its lawfulness. USCIS is currently only accepting renewal applications. This means anyone who had not been granted DACA status previously is not eligible to apply. 

Sources: 

De Maio, Mariana, and Nathian Shae Rodriguez. “The Use of Twitter to #DefendDACA & DREAMers.” Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, vol. 9, no. 2, 2022, pp. 49–65. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48710336. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/

https://time.com/daca-dream-act-jose-antonio-vargas-time-cover-revisited/