Renewal wait times for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program have surged dramatically over the past year, leaving hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries in a precarious state. Many so-called "Dreamers" have lost their jobs, driver's licenses, and legal protection, fearing detention in the only country many have called home since childhood.
Personal Stories of Struggle
Melani Candia, a special education worker in Florida, has successfully renewed her DACA status every two years for over a decade. However, recent delays caused her to miss her renewal deadline, resulting in job loss and constant fear of detention. "Fear has become my new baseline," she said, describing the heightened vulnerability she now faces.
Elsa Sanchez, a single mother and healthcare IT employee, has been waiting over five months for her renewal. After her deadline passed in April, she was put on leave and now has no income. "I'm saving every penny," she said, worried about basic expenses and travel under President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda.
Soaring Wait Times
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the median wait time for DACA renewals from October 2025 to February 2026 was about 70 days, nearly five times longer than the 15-day median in fiscal year 2025. By late April 2026, most renewals were taking around 122 days, with some applicants waiting six months or more. This is the longest wait since 2016, when technical issues caused similar delays.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler attributed the delays to "more thoroughly screening and vetting all aliens" under President Trump's leadership. However, immigrant advocates and lawmakers argue the delays are unprecedented and harmful.
Legal and Political Fallout
Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and dozens of other lawmakers have sent letters questioning the inflated wait times and whether missed deadlines are leading to arrests or deportations. In the first 11 months of 2025, over 250 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 deported, according to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. A separate DHS report cited 270 arrests and 174 removals among DACA applicants.
Maria Fernanda Madrigal, an immigration attorney and DACA recipient, lost her job after her status lapsed. She submitted her renewal only 1.5 months before the deadline, relying on past processing times. "My first concern was my cases," she said, noting the burden on her colleagues.
Heightened Risks for Certain Nationalities
Immigration attorneys report that USCIS has paused renewals for individuals from dozens of "high-risk" countries following presidential proclamations. The National Immigration Law Center estimates 3,000 to 4,000 people could be affected. "This process with no timeline is leading to a pause for people from certain countries," said Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec, an attorney with the group.
Candia checks her renewal status daily, fearing detention in an ICE facility and the prospect of returning to Bolivia after 25 years in the U.S. "If God forbid that happened, it would break my heart," she said. "My entire life is here."
