Uncertainty around DACA creates “perfect breeding ground” for misinformation

NBC reports that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy has created “a perfect breeding ground” for misinformation to flourish online.

The future of the limited relief from removal provided by DACA to more than 580,000 recipients has been uncertain with the legality of the policy still being litigated.

DACA, marks its 11th birthday on June 15 has allowed eligible young immigrants without legal immigration status to work and study without fear of removal from the country.

The legal battle over DACA has become “a perfect breeding ground for bad actors to push this misinformation,” said a DACA recipient and deputy communications director at United We Dream.   Every time news about DACA arises it is followed by “big peaks” of online chatter that often become vehicles of “harmful narratives.” Some of these narratives can lead to people into “incorrectly assuming that they can’t renew their DACA, or that DACA has ended for whatever reason.”

KJ