Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Paul Rutledge
Abstract
AbstractA collective group of scholars have researched the flaws of the immigration system and possible benefits to be gained from reformation with the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The purpose of the quantitative study was to statistically determine if the temporary resolutions to the immigration system problems influenced the participation of the immigrant communities in the U.S. Census. The theoretical focus selected for this study was the assimilation and accommodation theories with the causal decision theory as a conceptional foundation. The research questions concentrated on the DREAM Act and the DACA program’s influence on the decisions made by the immigrant communities (N = 1110) to respond to the census-taking process. Quantitatively, the regression research design that was used allowed the independent variables to predict the impact on the dependent variable by means of the G*Power analysis application to the secondary data. The findings indicated that the DREAM Act and the DACA program did have an impact on the responsiveness of the immigrants but can be used to make a positive contribution to the U.S. immigration system modernization process. The contribution of the immigrants, documented or undocumented, should not be discounted when it comes to the progression of the United States. The implications for positive social change are empowering the immigrant communities and heightening the potential for transitioning from being an unauthorized immigrant to becoming an authorized citizen.
Recommended Citation
JONES-SMITH, RHEFINETTE, "Influence of the DREAM Act and the DACA Program on Undocumented and Documented Immigrants During the Census Process" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13020.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13020
