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Grant Pays DACA Renewal Costs For Community College Students, Though Many Don't Know
Gaby Platinco is one of approximately 165,000 California residents with DACA.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
Thanks to a grant from the state’s department of social services, California community college students can renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) permits for free. The Higher Education Immigration Legal Services Project also provides free legal counsel.
DACA shields students from deportation and enables them to get a work permit. However, students must renew their DACA permits every two years, and doing so can be costly.
Currently, it costs $555 to renew the permit online and $605 to renew it by mail.
A lot of students aren’t aware of the option, said Brian Guzmán, an attorney who heads the student legal services department at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, one of the nonprofits that’s part of the project.
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The grant for this initiative is set to expire in October 2024, although Guzmán warned that the funds could run out earlier. “The sooner [students reach out to us,] the better,” he said.
How it works
Students make a free appointment and get matched to a legal services provider. Here’s the website and here’s how to prepare for the appointment.
Other benefits
The project can also cover community college students’ naturalization or advance parole costs. Advance parole enables students with DACA or TPS to travel outside of the U.S., including for study abroad programs.
“These are [students who] haven’t been outside of the country, haven’t been able to connect with their roots, and it's a sometimes once-in-a- lifetime opportunity for them,” Guzmán said.
For high school students
These services are also available to high school students who are taking college courses through dual enrollment programs, as well as students who are enrolled in noncredit courses.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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