Seattle (June 18, 2020) – Today, the United States Supreme Court announced that the Trump administration is not permitted to immediately proceed with its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows individuals who were brought into the U.S. as children to become eligible for both a work permit and deferred action from deportation. The Supreme Court did leave open the possibility for Trump or future administrations to end DACA. In response, the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) has partnered with the King County Bar Association (KCBA) and the Washington Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to offer free online legal consultations for DACA recipients.
“Too many of our immigrant neighbors have been living with uncertainty and fear,” said Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. “Today’s ruling is such an important moment for our DACA youth – and our entire country. It is a testament to the tireless advocacy of our immigrant and refugee communities, particularly our young people. This ruling provides relief for the 800,000 DACA residents in the U.S., the over 200,000 health care workers who are DACA recipients and are fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic, and the 16,000 DACA residents in our state. Together, we affirm that for many undocumented immigrants, DACA or no DACA, home is here! I call on Congress to enact legislation that offers permanent solutions for all undocumented immigrants. To all immigrants of all statuses, I urge you to know your rights, to look out for each other. And if you are a new citizen, I urge you to vote in this coming election.”
“This morning nearly one million DACA youth woke up to some great news from the U.S. Supreme Court: DACA is here to stay and so are you. Your home is here,” said Council President M. Lorena González (Position 9, Citywide). “DACA recipients are our family members, neighbors, and friends. They are as American as you and I. Today’s decision comes just three days after the eighth anniversary of President Barack Obama’s Executive Order providing immigration protections to DACA youth across the nation. This was the right legal decision but there is still a moral decision that has not been made. We must continue the fight for permanent protections for DACA youth and for all undocumented immigrants living in our neighborhoods and attending our churches, schools and universities. I stand in solidarity with my undocumented immigrant brothers and sisters and will continue to use my position as a councilmember to fight for your dignity and ability to thrive.”
“As this global pandemic shows no signs of abating and in the midst of this powerful Black Lives Matter movement that is demanding urgent action on racial equity and policing equity across the country, it sure was an exhilarating morning,” said OIRA director Cuc Vu. “While my office joins in celebrating with immigrants across Seattle, this fight is far from over,” she added. “The Supreme Court may have invalidated Trump’s first attempt to end DACA, but his administration could still issue a new order to terminate the program. That’s why the City of Seattle continues to strongly encourage former and current DACA recipients to see an immigration attorney, so you can explore other potential opportunities for relief. We are with you!”
If you have previously been granted DACA and remain eligible, you can still apply to renew. Advocates await the response of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to see if they will start accepting new DACA applications. OIRA recommends that local DACA recipients sign up for a free 45- to 60-minute online consultation with an AILA attorney to:
- Be screened for potential forms of immigration relief and get their questions answered, or
- Review their completed DACA renewal application packet before submitting to USCIS.
The online clinic dates are:
- Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 15, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 22, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Those who wish to sign up for a clinic timeslot can do so here.
Mayor Durkan and Director Cuc also encourage members of the media and community members to attend today’s 2:00 p.m. press conference organized by local immigrant justice organizations OneAmerica, Washington Dream Coalition, Washington Immigrant Rights Solidarity Network, Washington Sin Fronteras, and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, featuring DACA organizers from across Washington on what this decisions means and next steps: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81128705362. The Webinar ID is: 811 2870 5362.
Over 800,000 DACA-recipients live in the U.S. Of those an estimated 202,500 DACA recipients have been working tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health and safety of Americans. Approximately 16,200 immigrants with DACA reside in Washington state. To learn more about OIRA’s free DACA Legal Clinics and for the latest updates, go to: www.seattle.gov/DACA.