UW Law’s Immigrant Justice Clinic works to help DACA recipients meet Oct. 5 filing deadline

Immigrants whose DACA permits are set to expire soon can call on the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Immigrant Justice Clinic for help with their renewal applications. The DACA program, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, protects young, undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced that his administration would begin phasing out the federal program. New DACA applicants are no longer being considered, but recipients whose legal status expires on or before March 5, 2018, can renew their two-year permits, as long as they apply by Oct. 5.

Margaret Raymond, dean of UW Law School, joined UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank in voicing support for DACA youth, many of whom are college students.

“I urge those concerned over their DACA renewal status, whether they are UW students or not, to contact our Immigrant Justice Clinic,” Raymond says. “Staff and students in the clinic are working hard to respond to each and every request for DACA assistance before the October deadline.”

The clinic’s two faculty members, 10 law students and four undergraduate volunteers have pledged to respond to all calls regarding DACA.

“If we’re unable to handle a DACA inquiry at our clinic, we’ll refer the individual to another agency qualified to help,” says Ben Harville, Immigrant Justice Clinic director.

Harville also said his clinic will screen each DACA recipient to determine whether other forms of relief from deportation may be available.

Estimates place the national number of DACA immigrants, who were children when they arrived in the U.S. illegally, at approximately 800,000. Around 7,600 currently live in Wisconsin.

For more information on Immigrant Justice Clinic services, call 608-890-3753.