Rhode Island donors step up

While some Las Vegas immigration lawyers are dedicating the next week and a half to advising DACA participants pro bono, attorneys can’t eliminate the $495 application fee.

In Rhode Island, however, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Tuesday that donors have provided $170,000 to cover the fee for that state’s DACA participants.

She contrasted the recent response with the surge of interest after DACA was enacted through an Obama administration executive order in 2012. At the time, she recalled, undocumented young adults interested in getting involved swarmed the PLAN office off West Sahara Avenue near South Rancho Drive.

The groups said DACA participants will face consequences if they simply let their legal status expire.

“They’ll go back to being what their status was before: undocumented,” Menendez said. Work permits will expire on or before March 5 if they aren’t renewed for two years. Driver’s licenses will slowly expire, too.

The Social Security numbers given to DACA participants are for life, but Menendez said she wasn’t aware of any government benefits that could be obtained using one.

“It’s just an identifier,” she said. “They’ll be able to use it to pay their taxes.”

Kagan said he expects demand to grow as the Oct. 5 application deadline approaches. He urges eligible participants to apply by Oct. 2 to ensure their paperwork reaches immigration authorities in time.