Rhode Island To Cover DACA Renewal Fees Statewide
- 7 years ago
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said on Monday that people in the state eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, renewals need not worry about the fee.
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said on Monday that people in the state eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, renewals need not worry about the fee, reports CNN.
She announced that, with private donations totaling $170,000, enough money has been gathered to cover the $495 cost for all Rhode Island’s 'Dreamers,' the undocumented immigrants protected under the DACA program, needing to meet the October 5 deadline.
Further, arrangements have been made to provide free legal assistance to those with questions or concerns.
“Dreamers who are eligible to reapply for renewal are going to have a really hard time coming up with the $500," David Ortiz, the governor's press secretary, told Vice News. "A lot of them are low-income students. So the governor made that a priority, to take the barrier to renewal away.”
"About 1,200 Rhode Island residents are DACA recipients, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services," notes CNN. "The state believes between 250 and 350 people are eligible to renew their status."
While the renewals costs are covered, the longer-term fate of those protected by DACA hangs in the balance.
The Trump administration announced not long ago that it is putting an end to the program, and has since urged Congress to come up with a more permanent solution.
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said on Monday that people in the state eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, renewals need not worry about the fee, reports CNN.
She announced that, with private donations totaling $170,000, enough money has been gathered to cover the $495 cost for all Rhode Island’s 'Dreamers,' the undocumented immigrants protected under the DACA program, needing to meet the October 5 deadline.
Further, arrangements have been made to provide free legal assistance to those with questions or concerns.
“Dreamers who are eligible to reapply for renewal are going to have a really hard time coming up with the $500," David Ortiz, the governor's press secretary, told Vice News. "A lot of them are low-income students. So the governor made that a priority, to take the barrier to renewal away.”
"About 1,200 Rhode Island residents are DACA recipients, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services," notes CNN. "The state believes between 250 and 350 people are eligible to renew their status."
While the renewals costs are covered, the longer-term fate of those protected by DACA hangs in the balance.
The Trump administration announced not long ago that it is putting an end to the program, and has since urged Congress to come up with a more permanent solution.