Illegal aliens cannot apply for citizenship.
They would have to return home and apply for permanent resident status and then after some time apply for citizenship.
DACA is simply a deferred action on their deportation. It does not make them legal. It was an illegal action on the part of Obama and should be stopped immediately.
So what to do with the DACA approvals that already happened? I give them some credit for taking the risk and coming out of the shadows. You know that nutty court would overturn any attempt to remove them from the US before their DACA status expired.
DACA’s process includes a return to home country and re-entering legally US legally. Usually it’s a very short trip. The green card comes after that step.
It’s not just deferred action on deportation. It’s retracing steps to make it legal.