EMERGENCY ACTION FOR DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA) RENEWALS BY RI IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES, STARTING SEPTEMBER 7

Dorcas International Institute of RI and community partners to hold emergency
clinics for DACA renewal requests for eligible applicants until October 3, 2017

Providence, Rhode Island – To respond to massive community need Dorcas International
Institute of Rhode Island and community partners will help individuals request
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal. On September 7, 2017, the
agency will be accepting walk-in appointments at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI
for DACA renewals. An emergency information session on how the new DACA policy will
have on the community will also be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 11, at 645
Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI.

Those who are eligible for renewal include individuals who currently have DACA,
whose employment authorization document expires before between September 5, 2017 and
March 6, 2018, and who have not otherwise become ineligible (for example, due to
certain criminal activity) since their last request. Renewal requests must be
accepted by USCIS no later than October 5, 2017. According to a Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) memo, there will be a limited window in which it will
adjudicate certain DACA requests and associated applications meeting specific
parameters. The USCIS fee is $495. Those who are not eligible for DACA renewal can
still access DIIRI’s normal walk-in schedule Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.,
(walk-ins are not available on Wednesdays from 12:30-4:30). Evenings and weekends
are available and by appointment.

On September 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the rescission of the
DACA program, established by the Secretary of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012.
DACA permits individuals who came to the United States as children and who meet
several guidelines to request consideration of deferred action for two years,
subject to renewal. DACA recipients are eligible to receive an Employment
Authorization Document (EAD). Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion
to defer deportation for a certain period; it does not provide lawful status. The
program will be phased out and eventually ended over the next two and a half years.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, there were more than 5,000 DACA
eligible recipients in the state of Rhode Island. As of March 2017, according to the
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are more than
1,400 DACA recipients working, living, and paying taxes in the state of Rhode
Island. Removing the chance for these students and workers to continue to contribute
to our communities and economy will have a devastating impact. Local immigrant
advocates are currently doing what they can to support those most adversely affected
by the DHS decision- including holding these emergency clinics.

Individuals who are interested in having Dorcas International Institute assist them
with DACA renewal requests should make an appointment by contacting DIIRI at
401-784-8621 or by coming to DIIRI’s Citizenship & Immigration Services office at
645 Elmwood Avenue in Providence during walk-in hours. Dorcas International
Institute will charge a fee of $130 to prepare and file DACA renewal requests.

Dorcas International Institute is a non-profit agency providing services to the
immigrant and refugee community of Rhode Island. DIIRI has a staff of attorneys and
accredited caseworkers who are trained and experienced in all areas of immigration
procedures, including DACA requests.