Should I Stay or Should I Go? Legal Uncertainty and DACA Relocation Decisions

• In Event: From Reddit to the Ballot Box: Immigrant Integration, Public Opinion, and Political Reactions

Abstract

Why do individuals with precarious legal status decide whether to relocate to another country, and how do they choose their destination? This study investigates the relocation decisions of DACA recipients, or those who arrived in the U.S. as minors and were granted temporary deportation relief and work authorization under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. With DACA’s uncertain future due to ongoing legal and political challenges, many recipients face difficult choices about their long-term prospects in the U.S. Some have begun considering international relocation as a strategy to secure permanent legal status elsewhere. Using original survey data from over 470 DACA recipients, this research examines the factors driving their decision to relocate and the criteria they use to select a destination country. The study employs a conjoint experiment analysis, where respondents evaluated hypothetical destination countries based on varying attributes such as legal pathways to residency, family reunification policies, labor market conditions, and social integration support. Findings indicate that legal certainty and family reunification policies are the most influential factors shaping relocation decisions. DACA recipients prioritize destinations that offer clear and stable pathways to permanent residency or citizenship, as well as policies that facilitate reunification with family members. Economic opportunities and social integration factors, while important, are secondary to legal security, reflecting the challenges faced by individuals whose immigration status remains uncertain in the U.S. This study contributes to migration policy discussions by highlighting how restrictive immigration policies can inadvertently push highly integrated immigrant populations to seek legal stability abroad. The findings have implications for both U.S. policymakers and potential destination countries, particularly in shaping policies that respond to the needs of migrants facing legal precarity.

Author

• Ana Paula Canedo, University of Montreal
  Presenting Author