Letter to the Honorable Elaine C. Duke, Secretary of Department of Homeland Security - DACA Renewal Applications

Letter

Dear Secretary Duke:

It has come to my attention that at least 34 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients mailed their DACA renewal applications well in advance of the October 5, 2017 deadline, but their applications were rejected due to an error in United States Postal Service (USPS) processing that resulted in abnormal delays in delivery. I strongly urge you to accept these applications as valid if the application was postmarked on or by October 5, 2017.

As noted in the New York Times article, "Post Office Fails to Deliver on Time, and DACA Applications Get Rejected," the USPS has made the unprecedented move of publicly claiming responsibility for these delays in processing. Some of the DACA renewal applications were mailed weeks in advance of the deadline, with tracking information to support their claims of USPS delays.

I strongly urge you to accept DACA renewal applications postmarked on or before October 5, 2017. These DACA recipients have made every attempt to follow the law and the instructions set forth by the Department of Homeland Security. Their applications should not be categorially rejected due to circumstances beyond their control.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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