DACA Renewal Delays Prompt Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
On June 26 2026, two immigrant‑rights groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging severe and unexplained delays in the renewal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections. The complaint, lodged in the Northern District of California, seeks answers from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the average processing time for renewal requests, the number of pending applications, and the reasons for the unusually long wait times.
DACA, created in 2012, allows more than half a million undocumented individuals who arrived in the United States as children to obtain work permits, access to education, and protection from deportation. Historically, renewals have been processed within four to six weeks. However, recent applicants report waiting five months or longer, causing many to lose their employment, health benefits, and the peace of mind that comes with legal status.
One 26‑year‑old medical school graduate from a top‑ranked university shared that his residency program could not begin while his DACA renewal is pending. Another DACA recipient, an orthopedic surgery fellow, has been unable to start a position at an underserved medical center in rural Pennsylvania. A 30‑year‑old man from Mexico, not a party to the lawsuit, described having to take unpaid leave for three months after his status lapsed, forcing him to dip into savings and rely on family support.
Legal counsel Hillary Li, representing the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, emphasized that the delays jeopardize both the economic stability and the safety of DACA recipients. “For years DACA renewals were reliable. Now, months of delay are forcing people out of work, off their schools, and into a precarious legal situation,” Li said.
The lawsuit also requests the government to disclose whether these delays are a temporary glitch or a longer‑term policy shift. Counsel Catherine Seitz of the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area added, “Our clients need certainty to plan their lives, jobs, and families. The lack of transparency is unacceptable.”
USCIS data shows the median processing time for DACA renewals rose to 2.7 months in 2026, a sharp increase from 0.5 months in 2025. Yet the plaintiffs argue that real‑world experiences exceed even this figure, with many applicants waiting over five months.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security reiterated that DACA does not grant permanent legal status and that recipients remain subject to removal proceedings. The agency has not provided a detailed explanation for the processing slowdown.
The case highlights a broader debate over the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement and the future of DACA. A recent court ruling affirmed that current DACA recipients retain protection from deportation as long as they continue to meet renewal requirements, but the administration’s actions have sparked fears of arbitrary removals.
As the lawsuit proceeds, advocacy groups hope for a court order that will compel the government to release processing data and implement measures to restore the timely renewal of DACA benefits, protecting the livelihoods of thousands of young immigrants across the nation.
