>> Many DACA recipients are in legal limbo after thousands of renewal applications are facing delays.

The program called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals provides temporary residency status.

That is to undocumented immigrants brought here as children.

But now the U.S.

citizenship and Immigration Services is placing thousands of recipients renewal applications on processing hold.

Even though many applied months before their status expired.

Some that their status expired.

Some the Dreamers.

Have they say that some us have lost their work approval and deferred action protections, leaving them at risk of deportation.

Here's Senator Durbin this week on the status of the program.

>> a much different world than the United States when it comes to doctor.

I said situation is which what was once a protection it has been used against people.

Unfortunately, and many people who had confidence in their government when they signed up for this program.

I have questions to whether or not they can survive and stay in the United States.

Daca recipients are the most vulnerable than ever.

I think in the history of the program.

>> And joining us to break down this issue is that David Canola DACA recipient and Chicago public school teacher, Nancy Garcia, director of civic engagement at the Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project, a community organization that provides legal counseling to immigrants and DuPage and will counties any say yes, but it's also a Dhaka recipient in Chicago.

Public school teacher will.

Thank you all for for joining us.

Nancy, I want I want to start with you to walk us through the renewal process.

What do folks have to do?

>> thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

thank you again for the invitation.

So overall processing party to the renew all is something that unfortunately, really complex.

And it's something that our applicants have to do and be to your son.

Technically they apply about 6 months before the expiration of their current work permit.

So organizations like our organization, Mississippi, that is located in Bolingbrook, along with a lot of other organizations that are part of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

We provide legal representation for people to be able to help them with the overall process.

At this time.

We know that renewables are still happening and are still getting approved.

We know that applications are not open rainout for approval for community members.

So what the process looks like is that when someone it's time for them to They contact organization that can go ahead and provide legal representation so that we can go ahead review any information about their eligibility and determine we can go ahead and help them apply.

Thankfully to organizations like ours and also organizations with nicer, depending on funding at the state level.

Sometimes we're able to cover the fee for that.

We know will is very expensive 600 the Okay.

right.

yeah.

I want to bring David in.

>> David, you're DACA recipient.

You're said it doesn't expire until next year.

Is there some type of uncertainty that you carry day by day thinking about your status, your work, your future?

Talk that 1000%.

And I also want to thank you for having the opportunity to be here and have to find a or >> Community, which is still much of the rest of his But story short, my specific a permit expires in March 2027.

I have been hearing my family members pass offense from the community.

All of us are concerned about these delays that's just share with us.

Normally they should mention we will have apply those 6 months prior to the process.

You're going renewal.

But it's a recent we have been receiving any response s up to like 9 months, sometimes even a year after which obviously you lose a lot of ways without a status in that time period.

do.

My close friends have gone through the situation with a reply within the 6 month period and then they don't end up hearing anything back and then they let loosen the which directly impacts the House bill because they're the best witness to the House hole.

Some beaches.

from them personally would come to delay?

I'm ready come into a plane now, even though take case to have like almost a 9 months into my work is permit expired.

Simple because I don't have to do with police say that her family members are going through.

they say is what is it like for you?

>> I have a feeling uncertainty on a day-to-day basis, it is a feeling that is my career and is very familiar to us that currency and unfortunately something that we have them.

and it's through I'm the same boat, a state that might prove does not expire to next year.

However, everything that actions like up renting an apartment committing to certain professional events, don't make me rethink public what I'd be able to fully commit myself to this.

And it is the uncertainty more than any feeling more than fear is, you know, certain team, the lack of a stability and be able to 30 year future on a that is was feeling that I think recipients can relate to at this point and does the fear of what might happen in the future?

Little by little.

We have seen that they have taken some of the provisions away from ACA for now we can do is just wait and see what happens or some words >> Of course.

And Nancy, you receive legal clinic that helps DACA recipients.

As you mentioned, what has it been like of the people who've come in?

Have you seen multiple people facing these delays?

What has that experience been like?

>> Yes, unfortunately, this is something that unique any We have seen a lot of clients that we help them summit.

3rd Dockery new law since about the middle of November of 2025. and ever since we have cases that are still pending.

So they're outside normal process in time of Thanks.

even some of them are getting close to 6 months that the case has pending, which is something that different.

Before November of 2025 cases we're taking about a month and a half, 2, 2, months on average to be approved.

we even saw cases being approved really fast, like less than weeks.

But that's not happening anymore.

>> As a disappointing for you, David.

I as we know, many DACA recipients, livelihoods are connected to their jobs, right?

What would it mean for those people to lose their livelihood?

>> stability you lose your peace of mind, like I said, stability.

And it's also a little frustrating because on the program came out back in 2012, we actually use to get 3 years before we had to renew.

So it it's a little frustrating we continue to experience that only different pressures coming in, but also I lack follow through with the promises that were given, A lot of us not on the people in my in my specific scenario, we're thinking about what is the possibility of this becoming a pathway towards citizenship are packed with too more stability.

So coming from those promises and then moving now, we got even less time with our Chris Berman that we're talking about.

The whole process of like as a whole is being undermined because we're getting kickbacks from out.

governmental parties price.

Hopper took their argued because of the status, right?

Like you have like a deferral action.

But they were here because of all the different lot to partition pauses that are happening, that even if you have of that is that kind of puts you limbo, right?

So young, when you you came 10 years old, I was 10 when I came >> And going through the different hurdles.

I listen into all the different.

administration is different promise as it is a little heartbreaking because end up like I I can't speak for for it to say is that they've but at least in my specific I've been waiting, you know, for that high a as we do our due diligence, long as we stay according to law good faith and good faith it, we see some of that.

But we're still waiting.

we certainly are still concerned because we don't know where we're going to have with all of this.

And at least for me specifically relocating to a complete new state.

I grew up a Chicago.

We're gonna moving to New Mexico to start a program in the fall.

But again, my permit expires March next year's tsunami thinking I'm planning a more intimate you for the next 4 years.

I had to look into New Mexico law functions in order to be able to feel a little more protective barriers.

Then first, a in any You are very outspoken also on social media about having Dhaka.

>> And, you know, you use your platform to start conversations.

What has that been like connecting with other people through social media who are also facing the same things that you are.

>> I something that really has come from it is being able to find a sense of community and find the other people that deeply understand you where you're coming from for the average person they could sympathize and empathize with us, but they can fully understand what we're going through.

So social media has provided me with hat able to connect and that other people also connect with each other.

And those will come to think that in terms of sewing how is not only affecting it's also affecting our communities.

Our schools affecting hospitals.

People might grocery stores.

We have drivers.

So we are very line in the American fabric the only solution that can come from it.

It's a comprehensive, something.

workforce from it was he was supposed to be not a permanent was supposed to be a temporary solution.

And we are past 2 I've been >> And I want to quickly bring up a statement from the UCI S from the spokesperson Zach Color.

He said under the leadership of President Trump, U.S.

you'll see us EAS is safeguarding the American people, buy more thoroughly screening and vetting all aliens, which can late lengthen processing times.

Nancy, what do you make of the statement?

>> Thank you for question is connected to the same rhetoric that we're hearing from the administration that continues to justify some of their actions in the name of that Community members.

And we know the shuttle's crew didn't need or green out additional com.

Additional information about applicants.

But the reality is that we know that the system is already very complex and they are already doing a lot of background checks and screening for the participants for the I'm sorry to cut you off, but we're going to have to leave it at that.

Thank you for all of behind Mayor Brandon Johnson's trip to Springfield?

>> Reflecting the people