<P> DACA was formally initiated by a policy memorandum sent from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to the heads of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The memo formally directed them to exercise their enforcement discretion on behalf of individuals who met the requirements . </P> <P> To apply for DACA, illegal immigrants must pay a $495 application fee, submit several forms, and produce documents showing they meet the requirements . They do not need legal representation . </P> <P> To be eligible, illegal immigrants must have entered the United States before their 16th birthday and prior to June 2007, be currently in school, a high school graduate or be honorably discharged from the military, be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or three other misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security . The program does not provide lawful status or a path to citizenship, nor does it provide eligibility for federal welfare or student aid . </P> <P> In August 2012, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that as many as 1.76 million people could be eligible for DACA . Of those, 28% were under 15 and would have to wait until reaching that age to apply . In addition, roughly 20% did not meet any of the education criteria, but could become eligible by enrolling in a program before submitting their application . 74% of the eligible population was born in Mexico or Central America . Smaller proportions came from Caribbean and South America (11%), Asia (9%), and the rest of the world (6%). </P>

How young do you have to be to qualify for daca