The Economic and Educational Attainment of DACA Recipients in States with Policies Supporting DACA Students

• In Event: The Wellbeing of Immigrant Students, Parents, and Workers in the US

Abstract

This study examines both the impact of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the impact of state policies allowing DACA students to pay in-state tuition and receive state-based scholarships.  

This study uses data from the American Community Survey (2012 to 2023) and imputes “likely undocumented” status using an algorithm used in other analyses.  The likely undocumented are separated into those who would be DACA-eligible and those who would not be eligible because these missed the age cut-off.  Outcomes were examined for DACA participants compared to non-DACA participants in all states. In addition, DACA participants in states with benefits for DACA students were compared to DACA participants in states without those benefits.  

Preliminary findings indicate a significant educational advantage for DACA-eligible individuals in states with benefits for DACA students compared to non-DACA eligible individuals. In terms of income, DACA-eligible individuals in all states earn significantly more than their non-DACA counterparts in adjusted models. 

These results demonstrate the economic benefits of DACA eligibility but also underscore the importance of state-specific policies in shaping the success of DACA recipients, suggesting a need for further research to understand these impacts across diverse policy environments.

Author

• Edwin Torres DeSantiago, University of Minnesota
  Presenting Author