We are your neighbors, your coworkers, your classmates, and your friends. We are "Dreamers" who have built our lives here under DACA, and we are legal immigrants waiting for green cards, work permits, and family reunifications. But right now, we are a community in crisis.

In 2026, the USCIS backlog has reached a staggering 11 million cases. For many of us, what used to be a predictable renewal process has turned into a months-long nightmare. DACA renewal delays have surged, leaving thousands of us without valid work authorization. When our permits lapse, the consequences are immediate and devastating:

• Loss of Livelihood: We are being forced onto unpaid leave or fired because our employers cannot legally keep us on staff without a current EAD.

• Loss of Basic Rights: In many states, an expired work permit means we lose our driver’s licenses, stripping away our ability to commute to work or take our children to school.

• Risk of Detention: Without current documentation, we face the terrifying risk of ICE interaction and detention, despite having followed every rule and paid every fee.

We have done everything right. We have submitted our applications early, paid hundreds of dollars in fees, and undergone biometrics. Yet, we are being penalized for administrative bottlenecks we did not create.

What We Demand; Solutions for a Faster Future

We are calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS leadership to take immediate, common-sense actions to clear the backlog and protect those of us caught in the queue:

1. Automatic Extensions for DACA: Implement an automatic 180-day extension for DACA-based work permits (Form I-765) upon a timely filed renewal, similar to the extensions already granted to other immigrant categories. No one should lose their job because of a slow mailbox or a processing delay.

2. Streamlined Biometrics: Speed up the implementation of automated fingerprint matching and reuse existing biometrics for all renewal applications to bypass the appointment bottleneck.

3. Transparency and Accountability: Provide clear, real-time data on why certain "high-risk" categories or countries are seeing localized freezes and ensure that security vetting does not become a tool for indefinite delays.

4. Staffing and Resources: Prioritize the hiring and reinstatement of adjudicators to handle the record volume of 2026, ensuring that "reasonable processing times" become the standard, not the exception.

Why This Matters

Our status is more than just a piece of plastic; it is our ability to provide for our families and contribute to the American economy. When the system stalls, our lives stall. We are not just "cases" or "receipt numbers.” We are people.

Sign this petition to tell USCIS: Stop the delays. Clear the backlog. Let us work and live without fear.