‘It has been crickets:’ DACA recipients frustrated with renewal delays

Frustration is growing for thousands of young immigrants who rely on a federal program that allows them to work lawfully, attend school, and plan their lives without the constant threat of deportation.

Some are reporting that renewals for DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, are taking much longer. The program was started by former President Barack Obama in 2012, and recipients must renew every two years.

Santiago Espinosa is a DACA recipient who came to the United States when he was 5 years old.

“I am worried for myself, for my family. I am worried for my 2 year old,” said Espinosa.

In the past, Espinosa says his renewal application took weeks to process, but the latest one has taken months.

“I put in my renewal first week of December. I got the letter back saying it as received on December 9^th, and since then it has been crickets,” he said. “I hope that I do not get deported. But there is an uncertainty that I have not felt in a long time. My renewal is just pending. I am one of thousands of people who check every day.”

An alert on the website for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is recommending renewal requests be submitted 4 to 5 months before the expiration date.

In a statement to NBC 5, a USCIS spokesperson said:

“Under the leadership of President Trump, USCIS is safeguarding the American people by more thoroughly screening and vetting all aliens, which can lengthen processing times. DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country. Illegal aliens claiming to be recipients of DACA are not automatically protected from deportation. Any illegal alien who is a DACA recipient may be subject to arrest and deportation for a number of reasons —including if they committed a crime.”

Santiago says he has been in contact with his congressman.

The National Immigration Law Center told NBC 5 it is seeing more and more cases of people who applied for renewal and are experiencing longer wait times.

“There are options to inquire about your case,” said Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec. “You can contact a USCIS to see if you can get an answer from them on what the holdup is. But most people are having more luck contacting their congressional representative.”

More information is available on their website.