DACA Delays Leave Dreamers Jobless, Facing Deportation

DACA backlogs are leaving Dreamers without jobs and at risk of deportation.

Longer processing delays for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals are leaving many recipients — often called “Dreamers” — in a precarious situation, with some losing jobs and fearing detention after missing renewal deadlines despite applying on time.

For years, the program has allowed hundreds of thousands of people brought to the U.S. as children to live and work legally on renewable two-year permits. But recent backlogs at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have pushed wait times far beyond normal levels. Median processing times rose to about 70 days in late 2025 and early 2026, compared with roughly 15 days the year before, with many applicants now waiting four to six months or longer.

These delays have real consequences. When renewals are not approved before expiration, recipients can lose their legal work authorization, driver’s licenses and protection from deportation. People like Melani Candia, who has lived in the U.S. since childhood, suddenly face the risk of detention in a country they consider home.

Advocates say the issue is widespread, not isolated. Greisa Martinez Rosas of United We Dream noted that increasing numbers of applicants are falling into this “limbo,” even when they follow official guidance to apply months in advance.

Federal officials say stricter screening under Donald Trump’s administration is contributing to longer timelines. But critics, including lawmakers such as Alex Padilla, argue the delays are excessive and are pressing agencies for answers about whether affected individuals are at risk of enforcement actions.

Legal uncertainty is also compounding the problem. While renewals are still being processed, new applications are largely blocked following recent court rulings, and decisions like those from the Board of Immigration Appeals have indicated that DACA status alone may not be enough to prevent deportation in some cases.

Some immigrants may face even longer delays due to additional screening or policy changes affecting applicants from certain countries. Immigration attorneys warn that these pauses lack clear timelines, leaving people without income, legal protections or clarity about their future.

For many Dreamers, the uncertainty is deeply personal. Losing status doesn’t just mean paperwork problems — it can mean unemployment, financial strain and the fear of being removed from the only country they have ever known.