10 years of DACA: "Dreamers" demand a permanent solution 1:58
(CNN) -
The Biden administration took another step Wednesday to try to preserve the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows hundreds of thousands of immigrants undocumented immigrants, who were brought to the United States as children, stay and work in the country.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the final rule, which is an effort to continue the DACA policy that was first introduced in 2012. Over the years, the program has protected more than 800,000 people from deportation, according to the DHS.
What is DACA, the program that protects “Dreamers” from deportation, and how does it work?
President Joe Biden said in a statement that his administration was "delivering on our commitment to preserve and strengthen" the program by finalizing regulations to "strengthen protections" for "Dreamers," referring to people brought to the United States when they were children.
“Ten years ago I supported President Obama when he announced one of our proudest achievements: creating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA,” Biden wrote.
"The program has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Dreamers by allowing them to live here and contribute their talents to this great country without fear of deportation."
“I will do everything in my power to protect Dreamers, but Republicans in Congress should stop blocking a bill that provides a path to citizenship for Dreamers,” he added.
"It's not only the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do for our economy and our communities."
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For years, Congress has tried without success to pass legislation to provide a path to citizenship or fix the immigration system.
The final rule, which has been in the works since last year, replaces the Obama-era memorandum and takes effect Oct. 31.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, described it as "one more step to do everything in our power to preserve and strengthen DACA, an extraordinary program that has transformed the lives of so many Dreamers."
However, DHS noted that an injunction from the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas remains in effect, prohibiting the department from granting initial applications for DACA and related employment authorization.
But because that injunction has been partially lifted, renewal applications can be granted under the new regulations, the DHS said.
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