Harvard University

Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The award supports the continuation of a longitudinal study of recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a federal immigration program that allows young unauthorized immigrants to reside and work lawfully in the United States. To date, the study shows that with DACA, the formerly undocumented recipients increase their income, pursue higher education, and integrate into American society. The findings inform implementation of the current DACA program and the design of future legalization programs for undocumented immigrants. Results are published in policy papers and scholarly journals, and presented in briefings for policymakers and immigrant legal and service providers.

This grant to Harvard University will support a longitudinal study of the economic, educational, and social trajectories of young undocumented immigrants who are granted work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The results will inform future policy debates over regularizing the status of undocumented immigrants by presenting credible evidence of the benefits and costs of doing so.