DACA Renewal Filing Fees
Donation protected
Emergency Fund For DACA Renewals Before the 10/5 Deadline
Despite the unfortunate news this week, two year renewals of DACA authorizations are still possible until October 5th. In the face of uncertainty for the Dreamers, we have about 30 days to dramtically change people’s lives by helping them extend for two years.
Our partner organizations CARECEN and CHIRLA will be providing free legal clinics in San Francisco and Los Angeles to process the paperwork starting next week. However, each DACA filing fee is $495. We need to get them this money immediately so that the applications can be sent in ASAP.
As an immigration attorney in Oakland, California I processed a large number of DACA applications when the program started in 2012. The people coming in were predominantly in high school or recently graduated, working under the table jobs at restaurants and construction sites to help support their families.
With DACA they were able to get a driver's license and a work permit. When they came back two years later to renew their applications their lives had clearly changed. They were now working full time at some of the biggest companies in America, buying cars and in some cases houses and many were in school getting degrees. They were starting to thrive.
We can't now send them back into the shadows.
The average DACA recipient arrived here when they were 6 years old. They are now 26 and this is their only home.
On September 5, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Administration's decision to wind down the DACA program. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security will stop processing renewal applications on October 5th.
President Trump has called on Congress to pass legislation to protect the Dreamers. For those that trust Congress and President Trump to do the right thing, feel free to stop reading here. For those that know better, it's time for action.
About DACA
DACA gives approximately 800,000 Dreamers work permits that are valid for two years, which, until October 5th can be renewed one last time (giving the recipients legal work authorization for an additional two years). Each application requires paperwork and a $495 application fee.
There are plenty of organizations that will be offering free legal assistance in filing the renewal applications, however, the $495 per applicant filing fee is non waivable no matter their income level. That's where we step in. The clinics will be writing checks from this fund directly to the Department of Homeland Security to cover the filing fees. Any money left over after October 5th will go towards Deportation Defense clinics.
We Can Help
I have partnered with student and social activist Scharleth Guadamuz to spearhead this initiative in hope of raising funds for DACA renewal fees. Together, in partnership with CARECEN SF and CHIRLA, let’s stand in solidarity with those who are at risk and make sure that nobody is turned away for lack of funds.
Sam Alcabes is from Berkeley, California. Scharleth Guadamuz is from Los Angeles. We are in touch with individual lawyers at these organizations who will be processing the renewal applications. After we take in the money we will write checks made out to The Department of Homeland Security, as required in the application process, and send those checks directly to the attorneys.
Find out more about our partner organizations and the great work they do:
http://www.chirla.org/
http://www.carecensf.org/
* Any excess funds after October 5th will go towards clinics providing deportation defense
Despite the unfortunate news this week, two year renewals of DACA authorizations are still possible until October 5th. In the face of uncertainty for the Dreamers, we have about 30 days to dramtically change people’s lives by helping them extend for two years.
Our partner organizations CARECEN and CHIRLA will be providing free legal clinics in San Francisco and Los Angeles to process the paperwork starting next week. However, each DACA filing fee is $495. We need to get them this money immediately so that the applications can be sent in ASAP.
As an immigration attorney in Oakland, California I processed a large number of DACA applications when the program started in 2012. The people coming in were predominantly in high school or recently graduated, working under the table jobs at restaurants and construction sites to help support their families.
With DACA they were able to get a driver's license and a work permit. When they came back two years later to renew their applications their lives had clearly changed. They were now working full time at some of the biggest companies in America, buying cars and in some cases houses and many were in school getting degrees. They were starting to thrive.
We can't now send them back into the shadows.
The average DACA recipient arrived here when they were 6 years old. They are now 26 and this is their only home.
On September 5, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Administration's decision to wind down the DACA program. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security will stop processing renewal applications on October 5th.
President Trump has called on Congress to pass legislation to protect the Dreamers. For those that trust Congress and President Trump to do the right thing, feel free to stop reading here. For those that know better, it's time for action.
About DACA
DACA gives approximately 800,000 Dreamers work permits that are valid for two years, which, until October 5th can be renewed one last time (giving the recipients legal work authorization for an additional two years). Each application requires paperwork and a $495 application fee.
There are plenty of organizations that will be offering free legal assistance in filing the renewal applications, however, the $495 per applicant filing fee is non waivable no matter their income level. That's where we step in. The clinics will be writing checks from this fund directly to the Department of Homeland Security to cover the filing fees. Any money left over after October 5th will go towards Deportation Defense clinics.
We Can Help
I have partnered with student and social activist Scharleth Guadamuz to spearhead this initiative in hope of raising funds for DACA renewal fees. Together, in partnership with CARECEN SF and CHIRLA, let’s stand in solidarity with those who are at risk and make sure that nobody is turned away for lack of funds.
Sam Alcabes is from Berkeley, California. Scharleth Guadamuz is from Los Angeles. We are in touch with individual lawyers at these organizations who will be processing the renewal applications. After we take in the money we will write checks made out to The Department of Homeland Security, as required in the application process, and send those checks directly to the attorneys.
Find out more about our partner organizations and the great work they do:
http://www.chirla.org/
http://www.carecensf.org/
* Any excess funds after October 5th will go towards clinics providing deportation defense
Organizer
Sam Alcabes
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
