October 19, 2026 · By Ahmad Yakzan
If you have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) or TPS (Temporary Protected Status), this is a plain-English summary of where things stand in mid-October 2026.
DACA is a type of "deferred action." That means the government agrees to put off deportation for a set period, usually two years, and lets the person apply for a work permit (an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD).
On October 8, CBS News reported that DACA recipients wait a median of seven months to see those protections renewed as the government says it has enhanced screening, and some have lost work authorization in the interim. Denials are still uncommon, though. Since the drop-off in processing last November through June, the denial rate was 1.1%, compared with 0.67% from 2013, when the agency began processing renewals, to November.
Earlier this year, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the top administrative appeals body for immigration courts, published a precedent-setting decision saying being a DACA recipient is not enough to avoid deportation. If you have DACA and also have an open or past immigration court case, have an attorney review your file. Our DACA page explains the program in more detail.
TPS protects people from certain countries facing war, disaster, or other crises from deportation and lets them work. The government designates, extends, or ends TPS one country at a time.
The Department of Homeland Security said people from Ukraine and Sudan would be able to keep their Temporary Protected Status for now. The program was due to expire for about 100,000 Ukrainians and 1,800 Sudanese on October 19, and DHS said people covered by them would be protected until it decides. Check the USCIS page for your country regularly.
Florida is home to many DACA and TPS holders, and a proposed law is getting attention here. Its Republican sponsor, María Elvira Salazar of Miami, renewed her push for it at a community event in the city on Thursday 15 October 2026. The bill is the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393), which would give some long-term undocumented residents renewable legal status. But the bill has had no committee vote and no floor vote since it was referred on 16 July 2025, and nobody can apply for anything today. Be careful with anyone who charges fees to "file" under a bill that hasn't passed.
Florida drivers should also know that a license issued based on temporary status is generally tied to your immigration documents. A delayed EAD renewal can affect your license too.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. Your options depend on your immigration history, any past court cases, and any criminal record. Some DACA and TPS holders may also have a path to a green card through family, such as adjustment of status. An attorney can tell you whether that applies to you.
If you or a loved one has DACA or TPS and has questions about a renewal, an expiring work permit, or an immigration court case, schedule a consultation with Ahmad Yakzan at American Dream Law Office PLLC. Call (656) 236-0205 or schedule online.
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