Today marks the 10-year anniversary for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as the DACA program.

An event was held Wednesday over the bridge at Castle Clinton, which is America's first immigration station. DACA was established by the Obama Administration on this date in 2012.

DACA allowed undocumented children who are brought to the United States by their parents as kids to apply for a driver's license, Social Security number, and work permit. Supporters of the program say it has been a transformative policy that’s enabled more than 600,000 undocumented young dreamers to remain in the United States and build careers and families.

However, in 2021, a federal judge barred first time applicants. President Joe Biden has said that the Department of Justice intends to appeal the decision. Officials DACA recipients and others will call on congressional action to have DACA preserved today.

For more information about the DACA program and to connect with city funded immigration help that’s free, click here.