Millions of immigrants are caught in legal limbo as they wait to change their status under the second administration of Donald Trump, an analysis by NPR shows, leaving many at risk of deportation.

Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.CIS), the agency responsible for processing immigration applications, shows that nearly 12 million requests are awaiting a decision. These include applications for citizenship, work permits, and permission to live in the United States.

Immigrants are also struggling to get confirmation that their applications have even been received. Without that acknowledgement, some risk falling out of status and facing deportation.

The backlog includes around 11.6 million applications across categories such as citizenship, green cards, work permits, and asylum.

In addition, there are 247,974 applications in what U.S.CIS calls the “frontlog”, tracked separately. These are applications, often submitted by post, that have not yet been opened or assigned to a processing category.

Matthew Tragesser, spokesman for U.S.CIS, said this administration has implemented “screening and vetting processes” that the previous administration overlooked.

“For years, the Biden administration prioritised rubber-stamping naturalisation applications with minimal vetting,” Tragesser said in a statement to NPR. He listed the various policy changes — such as tougher naturalisation tests, social media screenings and visits to applicants’ neighborhoods — which are meant “to ensure applicants demonstrate good moral character and an attachment to the Constitution. U.S.CIS will not take shortcuts in the adjudications process.”

The changes to immigration processing have led to stress and confusion for those hoping to legally live or work in the United States. They also come alongside other policy changes that make legal immigration more difficult.