COVID-19 Resources for DACA

The United States is the most severely-hit country with COVID-19. It has over 1,300,000 reported cases and 80,000 deaths, at the time of reporting. The situation is even worse for undocumented and mixed-status families residing in the U.S. since they are exempted from many government programs.

But the government is coming up with plans to help them. Here is a complete list of resources to keep you informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Updates on Immigration Processes

With travel restrictions in place, the U.S. government has already banned any incoming tourists or immigrants. Many immigration-related processes have either been stopped or are being conducted virtually with the help of technology. Here is the latest information:

USCIS Renewal Applications and Biometrics

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has already suspended all of its in-person services, including biometric appointments, till May 3, which is expected to be extended. The USCIS is still processing DACA renewal applications (more of that below).

With regard to social distancing, the Application Support Centers that are responsible for biometric and personal interviews are closed as well. For biometrics verification, the USCIS stated that it will reuse the existing biometrics from its database to process valid I-765 extension applications. So, if you had your biometrics appointment scheduled on or after March 18, your application will be processed, and you are not required to visit the office. This will be the case until the Application Support Centers resume their operations.

Supreme Court

Just like the USCIS, the U.S. Supreme Court has suspended its operations partially but is functioning in some aspects. Oral arguments that take place face-to-face in courtrooms have been suspended indefinitely. Court proceedings are being held virtually, and they are exploring ways of expanding its current remote working capacity.

But this has had no effects on the Supreme Court’s issuance of opinions and decisions. So, decisions related to DACA and other matters will be released on time if the situation remains the same.

DACA

DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has also restricted some of its services but is still operating, courtesy of DACA Renewal Clinics. There are organizations across the U.S. hosting DACA renewal events and providing assistance. They also bring in lawyers and other working professionals as volunteers which can benefit DACA recipients in their renewals.

As you might know, DACA renewals may be suspended past June if the Supreme Court rules in favor of it. Therefore, it is recommended to get it done as soon as possible in one of these Renewal Clinics. Many clinics are switching from in-person to virtual appointments. Only certain renewal clinics can host in-person meetings. So, check with your nearest virtual clinic. If you’re opting for in-person meetings, then take complete health precautions as advised by the CDC.

REAL IDs

The Transportation Security Administration has clarified that all expired driver’s licenses, along with state-issued ID cards, will be accepted at checkpoints. Since most offices are closed, people with expired cards can’t renew their ID cards. Therefore, to ease necessary travel, this interim policy from the TSA will help people whose ID expired on or after March 1. This will last for about 60 days after the national emergency status is lifted or for one year after March 1, whichever is longer.

Furthermore, the REAL ID deadline has been extended past October 1 by the Department of Homeland Security. Previously, October 1 was held as a deadline for issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses in all states. But given the current lockdown and social distancing norms, it has been extended without the announcement of a new deadline. For more information, please visit the REAL ID website.

Unemployment Benefits for DACA

DACA recipients will receive unemployment benefits during the crisis, but their work authorization must be valid. Eligibility will also vary from state to state. As per the latest information, DACA recipients from Colorado, California, Michigan, Texas, New York, and Illinois will receive benefits.

Furthermore, unemployment benefits will not count against you because of the new Public Charge regulation. To check your eligibility, please refer to the Department of Labor’s website and check under the Unemployment Insurance section.

COVID-19 Financial Assistance for DACA

Most DACA recipients will not be able to seek paid leave, unemployment, or federal assistance programs because of their immigration status. Here are some financial assistance programs you can apply for during the COVID-19 pandemic:

805 UndocuFund

The 805 UndocuFund is the result of the collective work of various grassroots organizations based primarily in Ventura and Santa Barbara County, California. Their aim primarily is to help undocumented people and their families living in the U.S. who did not get funding from federal safety net programs. The fund also helps these people at times of unprecedented natural disasters like wildfire and landslides. You can get in touch with them by visiting their website here.

MassUndocuFund

This is a similar collaborative effort by many grassroots organizations based in Massachusetts to help undocumented immigrants. Over the years, they have developed a strong reputation and trust in the area and among the residents. They are currently raising funds from government and private immigrant-serving organizations across Massachusetts, but also open for donations outside of it. You can get in touch by visiting their website here.

NYSYLC Emergency Funds for Undocumented

This is a youth-led organization for DACA recipients from the state of New York. There is a large number of undocumented immigrants living and working in New York. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, most of them lost their job. NYSYLC is raising funds and reaching out to these people for help. At the time of writing, they had closed the request for funds because of over-requests. But you should keep checking in intermittently. You can get in touch with them by visiting their website here.

Oakland Undocumented Relief Fund

This fund is run by Centro Legal de la Raza in collaboration with other community partners in California to help the undocumented immigrants of Oakland. Currently, they are raising donations and providing critical support to the individuals and families who have lost their job due to the nation-wide lockdown in the U.S. They have drop-in clinics that are closed for the same reason. You can get in touch by visiting their website here.

Relief Fund in Washington State

This helps undocumented works in Washington State. So far, it has received over $250,000 in donations. This fund, with respect to the COVID-19 crisis, is set up by the Washington Dream Coalition in collaboration with Scholarship Junkies, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, among others. Initially, it aimed to reach out to 65 families in Washington State and contribute between $500 and $1500 to each, but it has received over 6,000 applications.

San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium

More than 40 organizations have come forward to create the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. This fund will be providing up to $500 to undocumented immigrants in San Diego. Those who are critically affected and lost their job due to the Coronavirus pandemic are being prioritized.

Conclusion

These are some of the COVID-19 resources for DACA. We will be updating this page as and when new information related to the above matters surfaces. So, please bookmark this page and keep following regularly.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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