Barring action in Congress, legal options are limited for DACA participants

Participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program have little or no options if Congress fails to act and provide a solution.

DACA was created as a temporary solution for immigrants who came to the United States as children and had no other options, said Laura Barrera of the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law. There are 13,000 participants in Nevada.

“The issue here is that there really aren’t other options for most people with DACA,” she said. “The reason DACA was made is because there is no existing manner for them to become permanent residents or citizens.”

While the DACA decision doesn’t directly affect her clients, who are mostly ages 13-16 and in different immigration situations than those covered by DACA, she said the legal clinic wuold still be taking steps to help.

“We’ll be doing more community events as needed and trying to offer more consultations and things like that and just support people in any way we can,” Barrera said.

Congress has six months to act before the Trump administration stops renewing permits under the program. These work permits are what allow DACA recipients to pay for school, including UNLV, Barrera said.

“Once their permits expire, they won’t be able to work and pay for their tuition