Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) candidates are renewing their applications to avoid deportation, but with President Obama's failure to introduce executive action or back legislative reform, their future is uncertain as there are no obvious next steps to citizenship.

The Democratic-led Senate did pass the DREAM Act immigration bill in June 2012, but it was blocked by House Republicans. Taking executive action, President Obama authorized DACA in June 2012, and over 580,000 DREAMers applied. Obama promised more reforms and delayed twice before conceding that no action will be taken until after the midterm elections. That decision has left DREAMers in a difficult position and uncertain about citizenship.

"This is where I grew up, and this is where I call my home. I grew up the American way so for me [citizenship] would be awesome," Mario Orellana told KERO in California, an NBC affiliate. "It means the world to me. I have a little bit more freedom to do what I want in my life and achieve my goals."

The program grants applicants work permits and protection against deportation every two years. But because their status is tenuous, it leaves many of them fearful of police. The application demands a lot of information -- not just personal details but information about relatives and potential employers.

The DREAMers are not eligible for citizenship, but immigration lawyers says in some circumstances through DACA, applicants can apply for travel permits and upon re-entry -- if they are married to a U.S. citizen or have a U.S. citizen immediate relative sponsoring them -- there are ways of adjusting their status and getting them a green card.

The application fee for the fingerprinting and work permits is $465, which may be too high and may be the reason 45 percent of those who are eligible didn't apply.

Mexican consulates around the U.S. have been helping Mexican citizens with those fees through a little-known program for those with financial need, according to NPR. The Mexican Embassy doesn't keep a track of how many DACA applications the consulates have funded.

"This is on a case-by-case basis," Julian Ecustia, head of the embassy's consular coordination told NPR. "Paying for DACA applications is just one way Mexican consulates are trying to support Mexican citizens living in the U.S. If it's a program that helps you to work in this country, well, that helps our nationals, and that helps us."

About 80 percent of immigrants applying for DACA come from Mexico, according to United States Citizen and Immigraiton Service.