Free DACA renewals, deadline extended
Update: Catholic Charities has extended the deadline to apply for their workshop to Monday, Jan. 27, but are now only taking the first 20 applicants. As of Friday, Jan. 24 there were 13 spots still available.
DACA recipients in the Humboldt area whose status will be expiring before July 2020 can renew their DACA status for free.
Catholic Charities, a Santa Rosa nonprofit, will cover the renewal fees and provide legal advice for DACA recipients who attend their upcoming workshop on Feb. 1.
Under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, undocumented individuals must renew DACA by application every two years, which can be costly.
The Catholic Charities Immigration Program can save DACA recipients $795 in fees: the legal consultation cost of $300 and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fee of $495. Applicants will only pay $10 for postage.
“In my 15 years working with the Spanish speaking community of Humboldt, this is the first time something like this has ever been offered here,” said Haydee Hopkins of St. Joseph Hospital’s Paso a Paso program.
To take advantage of these services, DACA recipients or families with DACA recipients must do the following:
- Call Catholic Charities at (707) 578-6000 by Friday, Jan. 24 to reserve their place in the workshop. This is mandatory.
- Pick up and complete “intake form” packets. Packets are available on HSU’s campus at Scholars Without Borders in the MultiCultural Center (and six other locations in the county; they are listed on the attached flier), or email swb@humboldt.edu and they’ll send you a packet that you must print and fill out.
- Complete the intake forms and gather all required documentation before the workshop.
- Take the completed packet and required documentation to the Feb. 1 workshop at the Jefferson Community Center, 1000 B. St., Eureka.
Catholic Charities requires at least 20 participants to allocate the funds for these fee waivers, so they are asking community members to share this information.
In my 15 years working with the Spanish speaking community of Humboldt, this is the first time something like this has ever been offered here.
Haydee Hopkins
At the Feb. 1 workshop, Catholic Charities Immigration Program will also be offering assistance to anyone applying for citizenship. It offers a similar offer reduced cost of the $725 application fee for qualifying members from low-income households.
Catholic Charities provides various programs and services throughout the year. On Friday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 2, the group and several other Humboldt organizations, will host public information events about the proposed “public charge” rule and definition changes. See the flier below for details and event times.
Editor’s note: the author works at Scholars Without Borders
