The Trump administration sought to revoke DACA in 2017. Activists legally challenged this revocation, and the case that will decide whether DACA may remain in effect is currently pending before the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is expected to decide this critical issue by the end of June 2020. At this point, no one can predict the outcome of the case. It is possible the Court will leave DACA in effect. If, however, the Court decides that DACA is no longer in effect, that still leaves unanswered questions. It is possible that all DACA recipients will immediately lose their status and work authorizations. But it is also possible that current DACA recipients will be able to continue to work and live legally in the United States until their current status expires.

What does this mean for you? If you are eligible to renew your DACA status, we recommend that you do so as quickly as possible. Once the U.S. Supreme Court issues its decision on DACA, it may be too late to seek a renewal. Applying now certainly does not guarantee that you will be able to stay legally in the U.S. for longer, but it gives you the best possible chance to do so.

In addition, USCIS has proposed fee increases that will affect many types of applications. In particular, USCIS has proposed that DACA renewal fees increase from $495 to $755. This fee increase has not yet taken effect, but it may at any time. This is another reason that, if you are eligible to file for a DACA renewal, you should do so as quickly as possible to avoid paying the much higher fee.

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