Local immigration rights activist groups will hold renewal clinics downtown this week for DACA recipients looking to guarantee their status before the Thursday deadline.
Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), Friendly House and Puente Human Rights movement are among the groups staging the clinics.
DACA recipients whose status expires between Sept. 5 and March 5 have until Oct. 5 to renew their status. Other recipients whose DACA status expires after March 5 will keep their status until it expires, but will not be able to renew it, making them eligible for deportation.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was enacted in 2012 via executive order by then-President Obama. It grants protection from deportation and the opportunity to apply for work permits to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind the program on Sept. 15, leaving some DACA recipients scrambling to renew their status and prepare for an uncertain future.
“They’re asking, ‘What do we do?’ The parents are asking me, the kids are crying,” said Aldo Gonzalez, immigration services coordinator for LUCHA.
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Gonzalez said over 70 people have flocked to the LUCHA renewal clinic for assistance with the application process. The clinic has been running six days a week for the past two weeks to assist recipients.
Gonzalez said finding the money to renew DACA status has become one of the biggest barriers for immigrants, Gonzalez said. The program renewal fee is priced at $495 and attorneys can charge thousands for their assistance. To ease this stress, LUCHA provided scholarships for those struggling to pay.
Gonzalez has given presentations at places such as schools and churches to educate and comfort people since the move was announced.
“It’s sad, and they’re desperate,” Gonzalez said. “We go and give them an overview on DACA, what happened, how they can protect themselves, knowing their rights, how to prepare for the worst and also how to fight back.”
Co-lead volunteer at LUCHA Daniela Benitez has helped recipients renew their status at renewal drives. She started volunteering because LUCHA helped her apply for DACA two months ago.
“I’m really grateful for what they’ve done for me,” Benitez said. “I had plans before, and I know I (only) have two years, but I’m sticking by my plans. I’m still going to school, work, getting my own car, basically everything I can.”
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Fellow co-lead volunteer at LUCHA Jazmin Nuñez is also working to help individuals renew their status. Nuñez is an American citizen, but she has undocumented parents and a sister who is a DACA recipient. Nuñez said her family’s near-deportation motivated her to get involved.
“My sister is helping our family financially, and it’s crazy that she might not have the opportunity to do that anymore,” Nuñez said. “Young teenagers with children are impacted. For some families, DACA is the only thing holding them together.”
Living United for Change in Arizona events and services can be found here.
Puente Human Rights Movement events and services can be found here.
Friendly House events and services can be found here.
Contact the reporter at Nisa.Ayral@asu.edu.
