DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a program the Obama administration implemented in 2012. DACA provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for certain individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children and who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Since its inception, DACA has faced legal challenges and political uncertainty. In September 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would end the program, but several court challenges delayed the termination of the program. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to end DACA was arbitrary and capricious and therefore violated the Administrative Procedure Act. As a result of this ruling, DACA was reinstated, and the Department of Homeland Security began accepting new DACA applications for the first time since 2017.

However, the future of DACA remains uncertain. The Biden administration has expressed support for the program and has taken steps to strengthen it, but several legal challenges and political opposition could still threaten its existence. Additionally, DACA provides only temporary protection from deportation and work authorization, and many DACA recipients are advocating for a permanent solution that would provide a pathway to citizenship.

Overall, the current status of DACA is that it has been reinstated, and the Department of Homeland Security is accepting new DACA applications. However, the future of the program remains uncertain, and DACA recipients and advocates continue to push for a permanent solution.

LONGER PROCESSING TIMES FOR WORK PERMITS

Several factors have contributed to longer processing times for work permits in U.S. immigration:

1. Increased demand: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for work permits and other forms of immigration benefits, which has led to longer processing times due to the high volume of applications.
2. COVID-19 pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted immigration processing times, as many government agencies have had to reduce staff and modify their operations to comply with health and safety guidelines. This has resulted in longer processing times for many immigration benefits, including work permits.
3. Policy changes: Changes in immigration policies and regulations can also impact processing times for work permits. For example, in 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changed its policy for issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), which has resulted in longer processing times for many immigration benefits, including work permits.
4. Administrative backlogs: There are often administrative backlogs and delays within government agencies that process immigration applications, which can contribute to longer processing times for work permits and other immigration benefits.

Although the government has taken actions to alleviate these longer processing times, issues persist.