Days Away From Deadline, “Dreamers” Seek Help at DACA Renewal Fair
The Dream Resource Center at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College opened its doors Friday to beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) to help with renewing their status.
People filtered in and out of the room, checking in for their scheduled appointments or putting their name on the list of walk-ins. From there, they were directed to a DACA expert and lawyer, who guided them through the renewal paperwork and procedures, and who gave them guidance on what to do after reapplication.
The name Dream Resource Center refers to the term “Dreamers,” which is commonly used to describe DACA recipients or undocumented individuals seeking citizenship. After President Donald Trump moved to end the program on September 5, Congress responded by passing a bill to protect current DACA recipients. However, only those “Dreamers” with expiration dates on or before March 5, 2018, are eligible for renewal under the bill.
Aaron Garcia, a “Dreamer” seeking help with his renewal, is just trying to complete the process. A resident of South Los Angeles, he spent his middle school and high school years in Mid-City before attending Santa Monica College.
While Garcia was born just outside of Mexico City, he shared that the United States is his home.
“Everyone makes you feel included, I was never not one of them… And that was the best part about it, that’s why I feel the way I do. Like, this is my place,” Garcia said. “That’s why I want to stay in this damn country.”
Despite Donald Trump’s decision to rescind DACA, Garcia remains optimistic.
“I’m not too worried, I have a tendency to believe that things are going to be alright,” Garcia said. “So, I’m hopeful that something’s going to change and if not, we’ll have to go from there. There’s not much I can do, having no voice in this country.”
Garcia’s DACA permit expires on February 24th, so he only had 12 days to properly file his renewal documents.
Under time pressure, he searched online for an event that would help him fill the forms out correctly, finding the Dream Resource Center’s DACA renewal fair.
“I’m here to make sure I get it done right this time around, because there’s a little bit of difficulty finding out where to sign stuff, so they’ve sent mine back twice,” Garcia said.
Michelle Segura, a staff member at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College’s student support services and a coordinating member of the Dream Resource Center, explained she and her colleagues have been searching for a way to provide legal guidance to DACA recipients, including the more than 1,000 undocumented students that attend the college.
“The Dream Resource Center has been in partnership with CARECEN, the Central American Resource Center, for a while now… After Donald Trump’s decision, we decided that we would focus more on DACA renewals,” Segura said. “It only seemed natural to have an event on campus as CARECEN reached out and we were on board to do it.”
CARECEN is a non-profit organization working to empower Central Americans and all immigrants by providing legal education and advocacy services to the greater Los Angeles community.
Lawyers associated with the center attended the fair offering free legal advice to those in need of help on their DACA documentation.
Julie Mitchell, the managing attorney at CARECEN, finds resources like these essential. In partnership with the 9th Councilman Curren D. Price, she explained why it’s important to provide services to the district, especially in an area home to immigrants.
“There’s a very short window that certain people will be eligible to renew their DACA and their work permits. So … a lot of non-profit organizations and private attorneys across the country have pooled their resources together to help people to be able to renew during that short time span,” Mitchell said. “It’s important that everyone step up and help that small group of people that is eligible to renew one last time, because that’s two more years of protection.”
Mitchell added: “The DACA renewal fairs have brought light to the fact that this recession is devastating to so many people’s lives.”
Price contributed to the event by subsidizing the $495 DACA renewal fee for applicants who were eligible based on their financial status.
Diana Valdez, a “Dreamer” from the South Los Angeles area and graduate of West Adams Preparatory High School, is grateful for the event’s services and explained that while she is not a fan of the short two-year DACA contract, she would not be able to pursue her higher education without it.
“DACA is not really convenient when it’s only two years. I have hopes that although they’re taking it away, hopefully, they have a new kind of system where it actually benefits us,” Valdez said. “But, I’ve been working and I’ve been paying for the last year and a half of my tuition, so without DACA and without being able to work, I wouldn’t be able to pay for that.”
Another renewal fair spearheaded by CARECEN is taking place on Saturday at Glendale Community College. Appointments with CARECEN can be made Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The last day they will offer DACA renewal services is Wednesday, October 4.
