The Trump administration is dramatically slowing DACA renewal processing, creating a window where recipients lose work authorization and deportation protection before their replacement permits arrive. USCIS under the Trump administration is slow-walking DACA renewals, allowing permits to expire, which means the recipients become deportable.
What changed
Processing times that once took about 15 days now stretch to 120 days or longer. This slowdown coincides with a sharp rise in immigration enforcement against DACA beneficiaries. In the first nine months after Trump took office, immigration agents arrested 270 DACA recipients, and 174 of them were eventually deported.
Why it matters
A DACA permit renewal that takes 120 days instead of 15 creates 105 days of legal exposure. If an applicant’s current permit expires before the renewal is approved, they lose:
- Work authorization (EAD)
- Deportation protection
- Travel ability
Even though renewal is pending, the receipt notice alone does not provide employment authorization or deferred action during adjudication. Your client becomes removable and cannot work lawfully—creating both employment termination risk and deportation vulnerability.
The delays mean someone can lose their job authorization through no fault of their own, employers lose trusted workers, and students and young professionals do not know whether they can continue building their futures.
Way forward
- File early. Do not wait until expiration draws near. Submit renewal at least 150–180 days before permit expiration to build a safety margin.
- Track the receipt date carefully. Advise clients that the receipt notice date, not the approval date, governs when work authorization technically ends under current processing.
- Preserve evidence of pending renewal. Maintain copies of the receipt notice and filing confirmation to show employers and ICE that a renewal is pending.
- Consult on employment transitions. For clients whose permits will expire mid-renewal, discuss temporary work restrictions or employer notification to avoid termination during the processing gap.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. USCIS policy and processing times can change without notice. You should verify all information against the official source page and consult with a licensed immigration attorney before making any filing decisions on behalf of a client or yourself.