Urgent DACA Deadline, Help and Next Steps
Our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is the fastest growing racial group in the nation, fueled by immigration. There are over 1 million undocumented AAPIs in our country, and over 47,000 in our state, including some who are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients.
The Trump administration’s announcement this week ending DACA was met with resistance throughout the country, and APIC is a part of this resistance. There is an urgent need to get the word out to DACA recipients on steps they must take right away if they qualify for renewing their application, and where they can receive help. There are also action steps all of us can take legislatively to continue to fight for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients. Please help us get the word out now!
DACA Renewal Applications
DACA recipients whose work permits are expiring on or before March 5, 2018 are eligible to renew their applications, but MUST have the renewal applications in to the government by October 5 if they would like to renew their status. Our sister organization, the Northwest Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project (NWIRP) says that any DACA recipients with work permits expiring on or before March 5 who want to renew and need legal help to complete their renewal applications, can seek help at the legal clinics below, on a space available basis, by calling NWIRP’s office to make an appointment:
For Seattle and Redmond, call: (206) 587-4009
For Granger, call: (509) 854-2100
For Wenatchee, call: (509) 570-0054
For those who cannot attend a clinic, NWIRP will also be helping to complete renewal applications at the community forums that they are hosting with WA Dream Act Coalition. Currently there are events scheduled for Granger (September 11), Wenatchee (September 12) and South King County (September 16). No appointments are necessary for those community forums and the full information can be found here: https://www.nwirp.org/options-after-daca-community-forums/. More forums are being planned.
In addition, ACRS and the Korean Community Service Center will be holding an event where eligible DACA recipients with work permits expiring on or before March 5, 2018 can get help renewing their applications on Saturday, September 16 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church (11700 1st Ave NE in Seattle).
Legislative Advocacy
Call the Congressional Hotline at (202) 224-3121 and tell your Senators and Representatives, and House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass the 2017 Dream Act without amendments swiftly!
Additional Resources
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) has released a community advisory to help DACA recipients and their families with some of the questions they may have following the announcement on the ending of DACA. The advisory includes helpful background, and questions and answers: https://www.nwirp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DACA-Community-Advisory.pdf.
The City of Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is offering important bullet points regarding DACA and places to go for help in the Seattle area for DACA recipients with work permits ending on or before March 5, 2018 who want assistance completing the renewal application. Renewal applications MUST BE DELIVERED TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BY October 5, 2017. www.seattle.gov/DACA
