What is the latest news on DACA?

This is general information, not legal advice. News moves fast. We checked everything below between October 18 and 21, 2026, and we date every change.

Is DACA still open?

For renewals, yes. USCIS says it continues to accept and process DACA renewals and the work permits that go with them. Current DACA and work permits stay valid until they expire, unless USCIS ends them one by one.

For first time requests, not yet. USCIS accepts them but does not process them, because of a Texas court order. In January 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals limited that order to Texas and sent the case back to the trial judge. USCIS's DACA and Form I-821D pages still describe the January 2025 decision. The case is pending in the trial court (Texas v. United States, S.D. Tex. No. 1:18-cv-00068). Its public docket shows the latest entry on September 17, 2026 and no new ruling on the merits as of October 21, 2026. USCIS still treats first requests the same in every state.

What changed in 2026?

October 16, 2026: new parole fee. USCIS raised certain fees under the federal law known as H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21). The fee schedule now lists a $1,050 parole fee that border officers collect each time someone is paroled in, unless an exception applies. The fee increases did not list the DACA renewal forms, so the renewal is still $555 online or $605 on paper.

October 14, 2026: no automatic work permit extensions. DHS made final the end of automatic extensions for work permit renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025. DACA work permits were never extended automatically, and they still are not. If your card expires before your renewal is approved, you cannot work until the new card arrives. File on time.

October 8, 2026: a USCIS wait figure, in the news. CBS News reported that USCIS said it decided 80 percent of DACA renewals within seven months over the previous six months. That means about 1 in 5 took longer. We found no USCIS page with this figure.

October 7, 2026: new filing addresses for some forms. USCIS changed where to mail Forms I-131 and I-765. For DACA, the work permit form still goes with Form I-821D, and DACA advance parole goes to the Phoenix Lockbox. Forms mailed to an old address are accepted if postmarked by November 9, 2026.

September 14, 2026: keep using the older work permit form. A federal court in Massachusetts (Presidents' Alliance v. DHS) issued an order, and USCIS's Form I-765 page now says it keeps accepting the 08/21/25 edition and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition (checked October 21, 2026). Download the form from that page before you file.

August 13, 2026: travel on advance parole got riskier. The Board of Immigration Appeals decided Matter of Delcarmen-Lara. A trip on advance parole now counts as a departure for the 3 and 10 year bars. USCIS posted an alert on the Form I-131 page: people with more than 180 days of unlawful presence who leave may be inadmissible when they return. Don't travel without a lawyer's review. Read more

Late June 2026: a lawsuit over delays. Legal groups, including the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, sued in federal court in Northern California to make USCIS share data on DACA renewal delays (EdSource, July 1, 2026, a news report). It asks for records, not decisions on anyone's case. We found no ruling as of October 21, 2026.

June 29, 2026: carry proof of registration. A federal rule requires noncitizens 18 and older to carry proof of registration. A DACA work permit counts today. Not carrying it is a crime that can bring a fine up to $5,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both. See Your rights with DACA.

June 5, 2026: a proposed rule, not final. DHS proposed stricter criminal history and fingerprint review for some work permits, including DACA work permits. Comments closed August 4, 2026. It was still not final in a Federal Register search on October 21, 2026, and it would apply only to applications filed after a final rule takes effect.

April 24, 2026: a court case ruling. The Board of Immigration Appeals said an immigration judge may not end a removal case only because the person has DACA.

March 17, 2026: senators report a freeze for some countries. 41 senators wrote to DHS that their casework staff had been told USCIS froze DACA renewals for people from 39 countries tied to recent national security proclamations. The senators said the freeze had not been publicly announced. USCIS has not posted anything about it that we could find. Separately, a January 1, 2026 USCIS memo, PM-602-0194, put pending applications from nationals of "high risk" countries on hold for review (USCIS policy memoranda, checked October 21, 2026). On August 24, 2026, a federal court in California (Red Eagle Law v. Edlow) blocked the hold memos for nationals of the 39 countries, and on August 28, 2026 USCIS said it will decide those cases in the normal course (USCIS alert). If you are a national of one of those countries, ask a lawyer how it affects your renewal.

How long are renewals taking?

Longer than before. USCIS's own DACA page still cites 2023 and early 2024 numbers (about 1 to 2 months). Members of Congress reported in June 2026 that the median wait rose to 70 days. CBS News reported in October 2026 that USCIS said 80 percent were decided within seven months. The official processing times tool could not be read on October 18 or 21, 2026. Plan for a long wait and file at the start of your 120 to 150 day window.

What are lawmakers doing?

In June 2026, members of Congress wrote to USCIS asking it to speed up DACA renewals and to extend DACA work permits automatically while renewals are pending. As of October 21, 2026, USCIS has not done that. No law changing DACA has passed.

What has not changed?

• You still renew 120 to 150 days before your DACA ends. USCIS accepts renewals sent earlier than that, but they are not decided faster and the new period may overlap the old one (DACA FAQ Q53).
• There is still no fee waiver for DACA.
• Payment by mail is card or bank debit only, since October 28, 2025. Use a separate payment form for each form you file.
• Report every move to USCIS within 10 days.
• DACA still gives no green card by itself, but many recipients have other paths. See Paths to a green card.

Where can I get free help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

For San Mateo County residents:

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: (650) 326-6440
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: (650) 558-0915
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City): (650) 587-1558, consultations by appointment
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org

Elsewhere:

• Santa Clara County residents: Office of Immigrant Relations partners
• Anywhere in California: the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.

Get news from official pages and trusted legal groups, not from social media posts or anyone selling a "DACA update." Before you act on any news, check the USCIS DACA page or ask one of the free legal providers above.

Related questions

• What should DACA recipients do now?
• Is it safe to travel on DACA advance parole?
• What do I need to apply for DACA the first time?