Cesar, a college graduate and human services representative, is now selling food on the streets of Los Angeles. He has renewed his DACA eight times in the past, but is now unemployed due to not receiving his work permit because of processing delays. According to USCIS, the median wait time is now 70 days to process DACA and work permit applications. However, people have been experiencing unusually longer wait times despite applying four months before their work permits expire. While there is no clear answer why these delays are occurring, USCIS Spokesperson Zach Kahler stated, “under the leadership of President Trump, USCIS is safeguarding the American people by more thoroughly screening and vetting all aliens.” Yet supporters of DACA are arguing this is a tactic of the Trump administration to push people into unlawful status without outright eliminating DACA.
Since Trump took office in 2025, there has been an increase in Americans who support a pathway to citizenship for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, also known as “Dreamers.” To qualify for DACA, immigrants must have been 31 or younger as of June 15, 2012, came to the United States before their 16th birthday, and never been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors. DACA recipients must also be enrolled or graduated from high school and physically present in the United States since June 15, 2012 at the time of their filing. Once eligible, immigrants must pay $555 every two years to remain protected by the program. However, with both recent policy changes and court decisions, fear is rising within the DACA community, and whether they are truly protected from deportation.
These processing delays are hurting communities, as DACA recipients are integral parts of our communities, many graduating with college degrees and working in professional industries such as healthcare, law enforcement, and more. Many speculate these delays are occurring to purposefully attack the DACA program. Sarah Krieger, a former Citizenship and Immigrant Services official stated that by turning off the automated system that processed DACA cases in the past, it “…doesn’t increase national security. All it does is slow things down.” Agencies such as CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) have spoken out against the actions of the Trump Administration, stating delay tactics and arrests are purposefully being used to hold back on renewing these protections.
Apart from these processing delays that are affecting both the livelihoods of DACA recipients and the communities they live in, a recent court decision has made it easier to deport those with DACA status. Published by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the decision stated that having DACA is an “exercise of discretion”, meaning a judge can use their discretion to determine whether termination is sought by evaluating the “positive factors against the adverse ones.” This decision came after a three-judge panel of appellate immigration judges sided with DHS (Department of Homeland Security) who appealed a decision to terminate proceedings for DACA recipient Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago.
Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, deputy director of Advocacy and Campaigns at United We Dream, stated,
“This decision is yet another step in dismantling the program…This is a quiet rollback of protections, and our communities are paying the price in real time.”
Karla Toledo, a DACA recipient from Arizona, was forcibly dragged from her home and detained, despite having no criminal record. She supported her community and local non-profits as well. DACA recipients are here to help the United States flourish, but many now are uncertain about their status. This is due to both the processing delays and recent court decision. ICE continues to detain DACA recipients, and investigators found that within the first 9 months of Trump’s presidency, over 174 who were renewing their status were deported.
While it is unclear whether those with active cases are at risk for removal, those renewing their DACA are left with two fears: their lives put on hold, and risk of deportation.
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