Record DACA renewal backlog forces thousands into job loss and uncertainty
DACA renewal applications have surged to a four-year high, creating a backlog of over 125,000 cases and causing many recipients to lose work authorization and jobs.
Between September 2025 and June 30, the count of active DACA participants dropped 14% to 436,350, reflecting a surge in renewal delays that pushed the pending application backlog to more than 125,000, a fourfold increase. Processing speed fell dramatically in November when weekly adjudications slipped from 4,500-6,000 to under 1,900, though USCIS reports a partial rebound later in the year. The agency says it has intensified alien screening and redirected adjudicators to fraud and national-security duties, which has left many cases languishing.
Individuals such as Javier Diego Jacinto waited six months, lost his school-principal role, and faced financial strain, while businesses in construction and other sectors report project setbacks and penalties. Overall, the slowdown mirrors broader USCIS backlogs affecting work permits, asylum adjustments, and naturalizations, underscoring growing immigration system pressures.
Why it matters
Extended DACA delays jeopardize the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands and strain U.S. employers reliant on these workers.
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