Key facts
- Daca recipients are experiencing renewal processing delays of up to six months.
- These delays are causing recipients to lose work authorization and their jobs.
- The Trump administration has been criticized for new rules and processing delays impacting Daca holders.
- Hundreds of Daca holders have been arrested and some deported.
- Advocates are pushing for the Dream Act to provide permanent status and a citizenship pathway.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) recipients are facing significant delays in their renewal processes, leading to job losses and financial instability, according to recent reports. Individuals like Claudia and Cesar, who have maintained legal status for years, are now in limbo, with renewal processes that once took weeks stretching to six months or more.
The delays are occurring amid increased scrutiny and new restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on Daca holders. Advocates argue these policies, including proposed work authorization restrictions and the prohibition of commercial driver's licenses for Daca recipients, constitute a 'quiet unraveling' of temporary immigration programs. Hundreds of Daca holders have also been arrested and some deported in the past year.
Immigration advocates, such as Juliana Macedo do Nascimento of United We Dream, state that these delays jeopardize the stability of working families, employers, and local economies. They emphasize that Daca recipients contribute significantly to the US economy and are seeking fair opportunities. US Citizenship and Immigration Services, through spokesperson Zach Kahler, stated that Daca does not confer legal status and that the agency is enhancing screening processes.
Calls are mounting for legislative action, with advocates urging Congress to pass the Dream Act, a bipartisan bill that would offer Daca recipients a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship. Gaby Pacheco of TheDream.US highlighted the cruelty and damage of bureaucratic delays and political attacks on individuals who have contributed to their communities.