HR 124

WHEREAS, Created by President Obama in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is a legal reprieve for residents who were brought to the country without lawful immigration status as minors and lived in the United States for at least five years; and

WHEREAS, More than 140,000 Californians are part of the DACA program; and

WHEREAS, Many immigrant individuals, including DACA program participants and other work-authorized individuals, bring linguistic, cultural, and lived experiences that strengthen communities and families in California; and

WHEREAS, Delays in processing employment authorization documents, DACA renewals, H-1B visa employment authorization, and related applications can cause individuals, including educators, to lose employment, and destabilize communities in California; and

WHEREAS, As of February 2026, the median processing time for DACA renewal applications has grown to 2.3 months in the 2026 fiscal year, compared with one-half a month in the 2025 fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, Delays in the renewal of DACA status and related employment authorization documents have caused otherwise qualified workers to lose employment or experience interruptions in their ability to work while applications remain pending, creating income instability that can make it harder for families to afford housing, food, health care, and other basic necessities; and

WHEREAS, Members of Californias congressional delegation have reported a significant increase in constituent requests for assistance related to delayed DACA renewal applications and concerns regarding prolonged federal processing times; and

WHEREAS, Many Californians are worried their DACA status will expire and are unable to get any information from federal immigration officials; and

WHEREAS, The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services currently allows certain health care workers and childcare workers with pending employment authorization applications to request expedited processing under specified circumstances, recognizing the essential nature of those professions; and

WHEREAS, Teachers, paraprofessionals, school-based staff, health care workers, and other professionals are also essential workers who support the academic, social, emotional, and long-term well-being of people in California, including Californias children and families; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby recognizes timely work authorization processing is necessary to protect economic stability, address workforce shortages including essential education and health care workers, and ensure the health and well-being of California communities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly of the State of California calls on all members of the Legislature to urge the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the United States Department of Homeland Security to prioritize and expedite work authorization, DACA renewal, and H-1B visa employment authorization; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.