Beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are experiencing unprecedented delays in the renewal of their deportation protections, leading some to lose work authorization. Federal data reveals a 14% decline in active DACA holders, dropping to 436,350 between September 2025 and June 2026, while the backlog of pending renewals has surged to over 125,000. DACA recipients must renew every two years, but processing times have slowed significantly, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudicating fewer applications weekly since November. Although processing may have improved from April to June, the backlog remains substantial. USCIS has emphasized enhanced screening and vetting, including FBI background checks and social media scrutiny, which has contributed to the delays. This issue is not isolated to DACA, as the backlog for work authorization applications for noncitizens has increased by 60% from December 2024 to August 2026.
QUESTION: How might the delays in DACA renewals impact the lives and futures of young immigrants in the United States?
DACA renewal applications face record delays, costing some their jobs
