DACA Renewal Data 2026: Introduction
New DACA renewal data 2026, released as cumulative performance data by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, reveals that Mexico accounts for approximately 80 percent of all DACA approvals since the program began. This figure underscores both the demographic concentration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and the program’s continued scale after more than a decade of operation. The data is drawn from USCIS Form I-821D filings from August 15, 2012 through June 30, 2026. It documents approved DACA requests by country of birth and provides one of the clearest statistical portraits available of who has benefited from the program and in what numbers.
Background
The Department of Homeland Security established DACA in August 2012 through a policy memorandum. It allows certain individuals who arrived in the United States as children — without lawful immigration status — to request deferred action from removal. They may also apply for work authorization. Eligibility has always required meeting specific criteria: age at entry, continuous residence, education or military service, and the absence of disqualifying criminal history. Applicants file Form I-821D to request initial consideration. They must file renewal requests to maintain their status, typically every two years.
Since its launch, no statute has codified DACA. It has instead existed as an exercise of executive discretion. Its legal status has been the subject of ongoing federal litigation. Despite that uncertainty, USCIS has continued processing both initial and renewal requests. This has generated a substantial cumulative dataset that the agency publishes periodically.
DACA Renewal Data 2026: What the Numbers Show
The DACA renewal data 2026 covering the full program history through June 2026 show that Mexico-born applicants submitted approximately 3.83 million total accepted requests — initial and renewal combined. They received roughly 3.56 million total approvals. Out of a grand total of approximately 4.47 million approvals issued across all countries of birth, Mexico’s share represents just under 80 percent to date.
The next three countries by total approvals are El Salvador (approximately 170,000), Guatemala (roughly 115,000), and Honduras (close to 106,000). These three Central American nations together account for fewer approvals than Mexico generates in renewal filings alone. South Korea, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and the Philippines round out the top ten countries of birth. Each has between approximately 24,000 and 46,000 total approvals. The data reflects cumulative figures across the entire life of the program, not a single fiscal year. USCIS notes that it may have received some requests approved in any given period in prior reporting windows.
The program’s overall scale is also notable. Across all countries of birth, USCIS accepted more than 4.8 million total requests. It approved more than 4.46 million since 2012. Renewal filings substantially outnumber initial requests in every top country. This is a natural pattern, since recipients who remain eligible must renew to maintain protection.
Form I-821D Performance Data — FY2026 Q3 Infographics
The five charts below break down Form I-821D (DACA) performance data for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, including an overall summary, a category breakdown, and receipts by country of birth, by state or territory of residence, and pending caseload by fiscal year. Swipe or scroll the charts sideways, or use the arrows and dots below to move between them. Each chart can be opened at full size in a new tab.
Source: DHS / USCIS, Office of Performance and Quality — CLAIMS3 and ELIS data, queried July 2026. The underlying quarterly reports are published on the USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data page.
Who Is Affected
This data most directly concerns current DACA recipients and individuals who may still have pending requests. Recipients born in Mexico represent by far the largest cohort. Trends affecting DACA — whether related to processing times, policy changes, or litigation outcomes — will have the most concentrated effect on that population. Recipients from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras collectively represent the second-largest bloc. Individuals from those countries navigating renewal cycles or employment authorization questions should understand where they fall within the broader program population.
Employers are also indirectly but meaningfully affected by this data. DACA recipients may work, and their deferred action period ties to their employment authorization documents. Any employer with DACA recipients on staff has an operational interest in understanding how program developments may affect work authorization renewals. This is especially true in industries where Mexican-born workers represent a significant share of the workforce.
Immigration attorneys and accredited representatives who advise DACA recipients need current DACA renewal data 2026. It helps them counsel clients accurately on renewal timing and what program uncertainties may mean for their specific situations.
Practical Implications
The concentration of DACA recipients from a single country of birth has several practical dimensions. First, any future changes to DACA — through court rulings, regulatory action, or congressional legislation — would disproportionately affect individuals and families of Mexican origin. Policy debates that discuss DACA recipients as a uniform population do not reflect that reality.
Second, the renewal data points to a large cohort of recipients who have participated continuously for years, in some cases more than a decade. Long-tenured DACA recipients frequently have significant U.S. ties — employment, family relationships, mortgages, and in some cases U.S. citizen children. Those ties may be relevant to other immigration pathways, such as family-based petitions or, in specific circumstances, adjustment of status. This depends on a recipient's individual history and how they entered the United States. DACA itself does not provide a direct path to lawful permanent residence. Other routes may be available, depending on the individual's situation.
Third, there is a substantial disparity between initial and renewal approvals. Renewal approvals outpace initial approvals by more than four to one in the Mexico-born population, reflecting how many recipients have stayed continuously enrolled rather than allowed their status to lapse. Maintaining that continuity requires timely renewal filings. Gaps in deferred action status can have consequences for employment authorization and other aspects of daily life.
DACA Renewal Data 2026: What to Watch For Next
USCIS updates its DACA renewal data 2026 periodically, and future releases will continue to reflect cumulative totals as renewal cycles continue. Stakeholders should monitor the federal courts for further rulings on DACA's legal status. Ongoing litigation has the potential to affect USCIS's ability to process certain categories of requests. No one has announced a specific timeline for any further legal or regulatory developments. Recipients and their advisors should also watch for USCIS guidance on processing priorities. Procedural changes could affect renewal timelines.
How Immigration Professional Association Can Help
At Immigration Professional Association, our team works directly with DACA recipients across a wide range of circumstances. These range from straightforward renewal filings to more complex situations involving gaps in status, employment authorization questions, or concurrent eligibility for other immigration benefits. We understand that behind these aggregate numbers are individuals and families navigating real uncertainty. We approach each situation with the thoroughness that complexity demands.
Recipients of Mexican or Central American origin make up the overwhelming majority of the DACA population. For them, we bring experience assessing whether other immigration pathways may exist alongside or beyond DACA — including family-based options that applicants can sometimes pursue in parallel. We also work with employers seeking to understand their obligations and options when DACA-authorized employees face renewal questions.
If you or a family member holds DACA status and have questions about your current situation, upcoming renewal timelines, or additional immigration options, we encourage you to reach out to Immigration Professional Association for a consultation. This is precisely the kind of situation where qualified legal guidance can make a meaningful difference.
