Neguse, Bennet, Colorado Democrats Demand Answers on DACA Renewal Backlog

June 18, 2026 Press Release Lafayette, CO — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet led the state’s Democratic Congressional delegation in demanding the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) immediately expedite DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, renewal applications for Coloradans currently in limbo. They are joined by Senator John Hickenlooper and Representatives Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen. As the son of hardworking refugees and naturalized citizens, Rep. Neguse has been at the forefront of Congress’ fight against the Trump administration’s cruel immigration actions, including fighting to protect DACA recipients. Last week, he announced legislation with Senator Bennet pushing back against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, and in July 2025 he became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit ( Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al. ) successfully challenging the administration’s attempt to unlawfully block Members of Congress from conducting critical oversight at detention facilities. Colorado is home to more than 12,000 DACA recipients. Under the Trump administration, USCIS review of DACA applications has slowed to a crawl, with wait times for renewal applications increasing from 15 days in Fiscal Year 2025 to more than two months in Fiscal Year 2026. That’s a 360% increase in processing times in just the first five months of the fiscal year. These delays are causing job losses and workforce disruptions, as DACA recipients are left without valid work permits through no fault of their own. "We write to express our deep concerns about the growing backlog of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications for hundreds of Coloradans that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet processed...Colorado is home to over 12,000 DACA recipients. They are Americans in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute to this nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Our constituent services teams regularly hear from hardworking Coloradans concerned about the status of their renewal applications and the threat that the ongoing delays pose to their families," wrote Neguse, Bennet, and fellow Colorado lawmakers. For 14 years, DACA recipients (“Dreamers”) have strengthened communities across the country, fueled the economy, and built lives in the United States. 87% of DACA recipients nationwide are in the workforce, and they contribute approximately $17 billion annually to the economy. In Colorado, from the Front Range to mountain and rural towns, Dreamers are pillars of their communities. "The USCIS backlog of DACA renewal requests is hurting many students, health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and wildland firefighters during what is expected to be a severe wildfire season. These DACA recipients are pillars of their communities, and their lives are now on hold while their DACA renewal applications remain pending with USCIS. These delays affect not only DACA recipients themselves, but all Coloradans." The state’s Democratic congressional delegation closed their letter by reiterating their call for the agencies to streamline processing and seeking answers regarding any changes in policy or procedure that may be contributing to delays, as well as the extent to which immigration enforcement actions have the ability to impact these individuals. Read the full letter HERE and below. June 18, 2026 The Honorable Markwayne Mullin Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE Washington, DC 20528 The Honorable Joseph B. Edlow Director U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 5900 Capital Gateway Dr. Camp Springs, MD 20746 Dear Secretary Mullin and Director Edlow, We write to express our deep concerns about the growing backlog of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications for hundreds of Coloradans that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet processed. We urge USCIS to expedite the processing of these applications. Colorado is home to over 12,000 DACA recipients. They are Americans in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute to this nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Our constituent services teams regularly hear from hardworking Coloradans concerned about the status of their renewal applications and the threat that the ongoing delays pose to their families. As you know, the DACA program grants two-year, renewable work permits to undocumented adults who were brought to the United States as children. DACA recipients must comply with strict background checks and maintain clean criminal records, and they must re-apply to renew their status every two years. Since its creation fourteen years ago this week, the DACA program has allowed more than 800,000 previously undocumented individuals to remain active, contributing members of their communities without fear of deportation. Under the Trump administration, USCIS review of DACA applications has slowed to a crawl. Reports show wait times for renewal applications have increased to a median of 70 days between October 2025 and February 2026, up from a median of 15 days in fiscal year 2025. This leaves DACA recipients in legal limbo and undermines the intent of the DACA program. The USCIS backlog of DACA renewal requests is hurting many students, health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and wildland firefighters during what is expected to be a severe wildfire season. These DACA recipients are pillars of their communities, and their lives are now on hold while their DACA renewal applications remain pending with USCIS. These delays affect not only DACA recipients themselves, but all Coloradans. We urge you to expedite all DACA renewal applications without delay, and we request answers to the below questions no later than June 30, 2026: How long is the current average USCIS review period for a DACA renewal application? What is the scope of the recent delays, and what are the primary drivers? Has anything significant changed in how DACA renewal applications are processed that has contributed to the backlogs or delays? Is there guidance we should provide to constituents who contact our offices about DACA renewal delays? For individuals whose DACA renewal has lapsed due to processing delays, are they at risk of accruing Unlawful Presence (ULP) which may lead to removal, detention, or other enforcement actions? Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. ###