The NPR Politics Podcast Trump Administration Looks To Roll Back Some Benefits For DACA Recipients
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Jul 28, 2025 
Ximena Bustillo, an immigration policy correspondent, delves into the complexities surrounding the DACA program, designed to protect young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. She discusses the threat posed by the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back these vital protections. The conversation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform, the legal vulnerabilities faced by DACA recipients, and the tension between state and federal policies. Bustillo paints a vivid picture of the uncertain future facing over 500,000 Dreamers.
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DACA Program Basics
- DACA is a temporary program protecting immigrants brought illegally as children before 2007.
- It provides deferred action from deportation and work permits, but recipients must reapply every two years without guarantees.
Current DACA Demographics
- About 525,000 people currently hold DACA status, mostly from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
- Many are now adults with established lives who face travel restrictions and live entirely in the U.S.
Congressional Failure Prolongs DACA
- DACA persists partly due to sympathy for young recipients, but was meant as a Band-Aid for immigration reform.
- Congress's failure to pass comprehensive reform is a key factor behind the ongoing DACA dilemma.