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DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

Current DACA Updates

On December 4, 2020, a federal judge in New York ordered the Trump Administration to restore the DACA program to the way it existed prior to September 2017, the date the Trump Administration sought to terminate DACA, in a case called Batalla Vidal v. Wolf.

As a result of the ruling in New York, the DACA program currently exists the way it did when it was first created under the Obama Administration in 2012. This means that the government is now accepting first-time (initial) DACA applications, renewal DACA applications, and advance parole requests. Individuals granted DACA will continue to have two-year EADs (employment authorization documents). The court also ordered the government to extend to two years EADs that were issued for one year.

USCIS issued letters in January 2021 to individuals who had been issued a one-year EAD stating that they have been extended to two-year EADs, and that they will be receiving a new EAD no later than 30 days before the unlawful expiration date of their current EAD. Please click this link for more information.

On his first day in office on January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order entitled “Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),” memorializing his Administration’s intent to protect DACA. You can read the full language of the executive order here.

Unfortunately, the future of DACA is not yet secure. A case called Texas v. United States filed in 2018 challenges the legality of DACA, and seeks a ruling that the original 2012 DACA memo is unlawful. This could result in termination of DACA. The case remains undecided before U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen. A ruling could come any day. MALDEF (The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund), has been closely involved in the case. You can visit their website for more information here. NWIRP will also provide any updates on this page.

From NWIRP

Read our community advisory

Lea nuestros consejo de la comunidad en español

DACA Update for Supporters June 25, 2020 from NWIRP on Vimeo.

Completing Your DACA Application

NWIRP’s Free Monthly DACA Clinics: NWIRP offers free monthly virtual DACA clinics to assist clients seeking to renew their DACA status. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, all clinics remain virtual at this time. To secure a spot in one of our virtual DACA clinics, call the DREAMLine (1-855-313-7326) from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. Please contact us at least six months before your DACA status is set to expire to minimize the risk of a lapse in your DACA status. (Please note that NWIRP is not assisting with initial DACA applications at this time.)

How to Complete A DACA Renewal This video from the ILRC details how to complete a DACA renewal application packet by walking through the various forms’ questions to highlight what they mean and focus on areas worth paying close attention to.

DACA Application Forms This is the USCIS webpage containing the forms you will need to complete to apply for DACA.

USCIS' "Frequently Asked Questions" Page This page answers some common questions about DACA.

Find a Private Immigration Attorney Through AILA You can visit this site by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to search their database of immigration attorneys in your area.

Scholarships for Renewing DACA

If you cannot afford the fee to renew your DACA status, there may be organizations that can help you. At the present, the Mexican Consulate in Seattle is providing financial assistance with the DACA application fee for Mexico nationals. Please send an email to proteccionsea@sre.gob.mx, including your name, telephone and copies of the following documents: Mexican birth certificate, identification form (passport, consular document or state ID), and a letter from an attorney or nonprofit organization verifying eligibility for DACA (or a copy of your work permit and DACA documents if you are requesting a DACA renewal).

General DACA Information

ILRC's DACA Toolbox This is a resource where you can access answers to questions related to DACA.

OneAmerica's DACA Toolkit Another resource for DACA recipients from NWIRP’s partner, OneAmerica.

City of Seattle DACA Resources Several helpful resources from the City of Seattle.

Immigrants Rising Educational Resources A list of educational resources from Immigrants Rising

Immigrants Like Us A 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering low-income immigrants free legal services for naturalization, family green card, and DACA renewal.

Financial Aid for DACA Applicants Pursuing College Education

State Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrant Youth From Ready Set Grad, get information on how to obtain financial aid to continue with your education.

Seattle University (SU) SU has a page dedicated to providing resources for college students seeking financial aid.

The University of Washington (UW) Check out this page from the UW for additional financial resources for DACA recipients seeking financial aid for college.

Questions About Crimes and DACA

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has created this chart to help individuals understand the criminal bars to deferred action.