Rep. Panetta Joins Bay Area Congressional Delegation to Demand Explanation for Spike in DACA Processing Delays

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and a coalition of other Bay Area Members of Congress in formally demanding answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about delays endured by community members protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as they try to renew their DACA applications. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) and Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Mike Thompson (CA-04) also signed the letter.

“We urge you to accelerate processing, provide transparent updates, and shield applicants from enforcement actions while they await adjudication,” wrote the Members. 

This year, Bay Area congressional offices are each reporting 5-10 DACA delay cases per week, compared to almost none last year, and the caseload continues to grow. The DACA program protects undocumented young adults who came to the United States as children from deportation. DACA recipients must get their application renewed every two years to stay in the country and work.

“Across the Bay Area, DACA recipients are valued community members who support key industries, including healthcare, education, technology, and hospitality. When renewals lapse, DACA recipients face disruptions to employment, income stability, and daily life—effects that ripple beyond individual households into the broader regional economy,” continued the Members. “The consequences are already visible in our state: school districts are placing Dreamer educators on unpaid administrative leave mid-year, and other workers are missing shifts, because timely, properly filed renewals remain unadjudicated.”

The legislators explained that while USCIS currently reports a 3.5-month processing average, real-time data from the Members’ casework teams show that extensions that once took only a couple of weeks to process now stretch beyond five months. The agency completed 18% fewer cases in the second quarter of FY 2025 compared to the same period the prior year. 

A lapse in DACA authorization increases the risk of detention or deportation and leaves immigrant families in limbo. In the letter, the lawmakers also requested data about processing times in each Congressional District, explanations for the processing delays, and details about whether USCIS is sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

 “[DACA recipients] build careers, raise families, and contribute to this country in good faith—fulfilling every obligation this government requires of them. USCIS must meet its obligations in return,” concluded the Members.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Secretary Mullin and Director Edlow,

We write to express concern about processing delays for renewal applications under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program across the Bay Area. We urge you to accelerate processing, provide transparent updates, and shield applicants from enforcement actions while they await adjudication.

In recent months, our offices noted a significant increase in processing times for constituents’ DACA renewal applications. Despite submitting complete and timely filings consistent with USCIS guidance, applicants endure prolonged adjudication periods that outlast their current grants of deferred action and work authorization. While USCIS currently reports a 3.5-month processing average, real-time data from our casework teams reveals times stretching beyond five months. The agency completed 18% fewer cases in the second quarter of FY2025 compared to the same period the prior year. This trend seeds widespread uncertainty for applicants and employers alike, particularly when USCIS withholds the causes of delays or expected resolution timelines.

Across the Bay Area, DACA recipients are valued community members who support key industries, including healthcare, education, technology, and hospitality. When renewals lapse, DACA recipients face disruptions to employment, income stability, and daily life—effects that ripple beyond individual households into the broader regional economy. The consequences are already visible in our state: school districts are placing Dreamer educators on unpaid administrative leave mid-year, and other workers are missing shifts, because timely, properly filed renewals remain unadjudicated.

In addition, a lapse in DACA increases the risk of detention or deportation by federal immigration officials. Between January and September 2025, at least 270 Dreamers across the country were arrested and 174 were deported. DACA recipients should not face such risk due to a pending renewal application due to processing delays out of their control.

We request written responses to the following questions no later than May 29th, 2026:

• District Data: List current average processing times and pending application totals for each of our districts.
• Operational Shifts: Detail specific policy, staffing, or procedural changes since January 20, 2025, that contributed to longer processing times.
• Lapse Impact: How many recipients in our districts have suffered an employment authorization lapse due to processing delays?
• Remediation: Outline the steps DHS and USCIS leaders plan to accelerate processing and reduce the backlog. What timeline governs the implementation of these steps?
• Enforcement Coordination: What information does USCIS share with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding expiration dates and renewal status?
• Custody Status: How many individuals in each of our districts who are experiencing pending renewals are facing detention, are in custody, or face removal?

Bay Area DACA recipients remain essential to the ecosystem of California and the United States. They build careers, raise families, and contribute to this country in good faith—fulfilling every obligation this government requires of them. USCIS must meet its obligations in return.

Sincerely,

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