The delays in DACA renewals have “catastrophic” consequences
Dreamers face severe delays in the renewal of their work permits, and many have lost their jobs. Many causes have been named for the lag by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), among them technical glitches, a shortage of staff, and the fact that the agency might be giving priority to recently arrived migrants seeking asylum and TPS beneficiaries. Whatever the cause may be, the delays adversely affect those who benefited from the program that, on June 15, will celebrate 12 years of existence after being initiated by President Barack Obama. DACA is the acronym of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which extends deportation protection to some 600,000 young people, and work permits that are renewable every two years. I spoke with someone who has benefited from DACA since 2012. He did not want to give his name, but shared that he applied to renew his work permit in January, but the petition has not been processed. His work permit expired. The company for which he works decided to wait for him, for now, and granted him unpaid personal leave. But this young man is the economic rock of his parents and siblings. Losing his income has been devastating, taking into account that his father, who is also undocumented, suffered a heart attack and the medical bills are large. Karen Tumlin, an immigration lawyer and founder and director of Justice Action Center, pointed out that DACA beneficiaries apply for their work permit renewals four or five months ahead of the expiration date. But the renewals have not been received in that timeframe.