Attorney General Becerra: Following Landmark Supreme Court Victory, New Data Shows More Than 113,000 Dreamers Renewed Their DACA Protections Last Quarter

Renewal data published as part of a court order California secured in 2018 

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced that more than 113,000 Dreamers successfully renewed their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections last quarter thanks to a preliminary injunction obtained by California in 2018. Coming on the heels of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision California secured last month, the renewals provide DACA recipients with temporary protection against immigration action for removal and allow them to work in the United States for another two years.

“In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed what Americans across this country already know: Dreamers deserve to be here," said Attorney General Becerra. "And, despite the obstacles, they keep fighting to give back to the only place they have ever called home. Now, Congress must enact a permanent fix to help make their dreams a reality: DACA renewals are more than just numbers — they represent people's lives. It’s going to take all of us working together to create the change our Dreamers deserve.”

As part of litigation involving DACA, federal immigration authorities were required to report quarterly data on the number of DACA applications that have been renewed or are awaiting a decision. There were approximately 113,145 renewals in the most recent quarter, bringing the total to 826,510 renewals approved since January 2018. Total renewals include individuals who have been able to renew their protections more than once since the 2018 preliminary injunction.

Currently, there are nearly 650,000 active DACA recipients who arrived in this country as children. Dreamers come from almost every country in the world, but many have never known any home other than the United States. They are among our nation’s newest college graduates, soldiers, nurses, teachers, and first responders who are boosting the country’s economy and communities every day. For instance, there are approximately 29,000 doctors, nurses, dentists, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers who have benefitted from DACA and contribute to protecting the health of our communities across the country. DACA recipients and their households are estimated to contribute nearly $9 billion in federal, state, and local taxes each year. More than a quarter of DACA recipients reside in California.

For those who are interested in learning more about their immigration options, the California Department of Social Services funds qualified non-profit organizations to provide free legal services to immigrants who reside in the State of California. Those services include assistance for individuals seeking DACA protections, naturalization, other immigration remedies, and removal defense. A list of providers across the state is available here. Additional information on immigration services is available on the California Department of Social Services website here: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/immigration. In addition, information on how to avoid immigration scams is available here. For those looking to stand with Dreamers and push for a permanent fix, information on contacting your elected representatives is available here.

The most recent renewal statistics are available here. More information on Attorney General Becerra’s efforts to protect DACA is available here.