Daca Deadline for Dreamers
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The deadline for thousands of dreamers to renew their immigration status as part of the "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" or DACA is October 5, 2017.
About 48,000 eligible immigrants have yet to renew their status but even with a renewal - the future for 800,000 dreamers is anything but certain.
Last month, President Trump fulfilled one of his primary campaign promises--announcing his plan to end the DACA program in six months.
He wants Congress to act on a solution for dreamers, before DACA expires on March 5th.
"America made a promise to our dreamers. We promised that if they would come out of the shadows if they would register that we would make it possible for them to stay in the only homes many of them have ever known," said Senator Elizabeth Warren.
It appeared President Trump had reached a deal on DACA with democratic leaders last month but since then hopes have faded that there will be a bi-partisan agreement.
A variety of groups tried to help young immigrants renew their DACA applications in time.
"We were able to help a considerable amount of people, a lot of individuals from rural areas and rural communities," said Eduardo Ramirez Castro.
"In addition to providing them with free of cost application assistance, we had the great fortune of offering them scholarships to pay the complete filing fee of $495."
Despite the efforts of California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and others, it is estimated about 50,000 who were eligible for extensions failed to apply. Many may have been afraid to trust the government.
"What are they going to do with the information. What are they going to do with the information on the application I provide."
DACA recipient America Hernandez of Fresno was in Washington today, meeting with members of Congress. Seeking more time for DACA recipients to renew, and push for passage of a
new Dream Act, to allow those undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children to stay.
"I don't think there's going to be an extension of the deadline but it was very positive. I met with six different representatives and it seems everybody was sympathetic the only one that didn't have a position and one being from the Valley was Nunes," said America Hernandez.
DACA supporters around the state held demonstrations to urge Congress to find a solution. The fact is right now if a DACA recipients whose time is up between September 5th and March 5th failed to get their renewals to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office it's too late now.
"If you didn't file by today it's not going to be possible for USCIS to receive the applications by October fifth," said Ramirez.
