DACA Program Ruled Illegal as Renewal Backlogs Grow
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The Fifth Circuit Court has ruled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal, a decision expected to affect work authorizations for Texas-based recipients. Renewal processing times have slowed significantly, with over 120,000 cases pending. While DACA recipients remain protected from deportation for now, the program's future is uncertain.
Facts First
- The Fifth Circuit Court ruled DACA illegal, a decision expected to impact future work authorizations.
- Renewal processing times have slowed to up to six months, with over 120,000 cases pending in the last quarter of FY2025.
- The Board of Immigration Appeals stated DACA alone does not shield recipients from deportation, advising judges not to automatically dismiss removal cases.
- A White House official stated the Trump Administration remains focused on enforcing federal immigration law.
- President Trump previously expressed willingness to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers in exchange for border wall funding.
What Happened
The Fifth Circuit Court ruled the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal. This ruling is expected to prevent Texas-based Dreamers from obtaining work authorization in the future. Concurrently, processing times for DACA renewals have slowed significantly, with some recipients waiting up to six months compared to a previous average of two months. In the last quarter of fiscal year 2025, there were more than 120,000 pending DACA cases.
Why this Matters to You
If you or someone you know is among the 500,000 DACA recipients, your ability to work legally and remain protected from deportation is now under greater threat. The slowed renewal processing could directly impact your job security and legal status, as DACA recipients are required to renew their status and work permits every two years. You may face increased uncertainty, as the top federal immigration court has stated that DACA alone does not automatically shield recipients from deportation, and some with criminal histories have been detained or removed.
What's Next
Ongoing litigation is likely to continue shaping the program's future. The Trump administration's focus on enforcing immigration law suggests current policies, including slower processing times, may persist. A legislative solution, such as the pathway to citizenship President Trump previously discussed, could emerge from future negotiations, but its passage remains uncertain.