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| The high cost of being a legal immigrant in the US: $465 | The high cost of being a legal immigrant in the US: $465 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A year and a half ago, President Barack Obama announced a band-aid for the immigration system, providing two-year work permits for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children before their 16th birthdays. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program had undocumented immigrants rejoicing that the door to the US had opened, if only slightly. | A year and a half ago, President Barack Obama announced a band-aid for the immigration system, providing two-year work permits for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children before their 16th birthdays. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program had undocumented immigrants rejoicing that the door to the US had opened, if only slightly. |
| Yet Reyna Maldonado, who came to the US from Mexico as a child, hasn't felt like celebrating. There was one big question weighing on her mind: "Where do we come up with this money?" | Yet Reyna Maldonado, who came to the US from Mexico as a child, hasn't felt like celebrating. There was one big question weighing on her mind: "Where do we come up with this money?" |
| Maldonado, who is currently in the process of applying for DACA, is not the only one questioning the costs of the application, which can prove prohibitively high. | Maldonado, who is currently in the process of applying for DACA, is not the only one questioning the costs of the application, which can prove prohibitively high. |
| In the first year of its existence, DACA fell short of reaching the estimated 1.09 million undocumented immigrants who are eligible for the program. Only 567,563 people applied, half in the three months following the program's launch, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. | In the first year of its existence, DACA fell short of reaching the estimated 1.09 million undocumented immigrants who are eligible for the program. Only 567,563 people applied, half in the three months following the program's launch, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
| Many have blamed the slow rate of applications on the lack of outreach to immigrant communities, and those communities' deeply embedded fear of deportation. While DACA program does not offer a path to citizenship, it does provide working permits to those who qualify, allowing them to obtain essential documents like social security number and a driver's license – if they have the time and money. | Many have blamed the slow rate of applications on the lack of outreach to immigrant communities, and those communities' deeply embedded fear of deportation. While DACA program does not offer a path to citizenship, it does provide working permits to those who qualify, allowing them to obtain essential documents like social security number and a driver's license – if they have the time and money. |
| Anecdotally, the expense also may discourage undocumented immigrants, like Maldonado, from applying. Cost has been one of the top reasons why people eligible for DACA delay their application, says Sarah Hooker, policy analyst at Migration Policy Institute. The $456 application fee, while minuscule to most middle-class Americans, has played a large role in preventing young undocumented immigrants from applying for work permits. According to a recent MPI report, 35% of those eligible for DACA live in families with incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level. That means a family of five lives on annual income of $27,570 or less. | Anecdotally, the expense also may discourage undocumented immigrants, like Maldonado, from applying. Cost has been one of the top reasons why people eligible for DACA delay their application, says Sarah Hooker, policy analyst at Migration Policy Institute. The $456 application fee, while minuscule to most middle-class Americans, has played a large role in preventing young undocumented immigrants from applying for work permits. According to a recent MPI report, 35% of those eligible for DACA live in families with incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level. That means a family of five lives on annual income of $27,570 or less. |
| “For many of the undocumented youths, paying for [college] is already a struggle, let alone a burdensome fee that can be used to pay for their rent, food and books,” says Ivy Teng Lei, an activist who came to the US from China when she was seven-years-old and used her savings to cover the cost of her DACA application. “The $456 fee is an application fee, but a lot of the documents required in the application also lead to an accrual of additional fees – such as school transcripts, records from officials, photos, mailing. These definitely add up.” | “For many of the undocumented youths, paying for [college] is already a struggle, let alone a burdensome fee that can be used to pay for their rent, food and books,” says Ivy Teng Lei, an activist who came to the US from China when she was seven-years-old and used her savings to cover the cost of her DACA application. “The $456 fee is an application fee, but a lot of the documents required in the application also lead to an accrual of additional fees – such as school transcripts, records from officials, photos, mailing. These definitely add up.” |
| The DACA fee means undocumented families with more than one eligible child are unlikely to be able to apply for all their children together. Most families prioritize paying for a child old enough to work, says Hooker. | The DACA fee means undocumented families with more than one eligible child are unlikely to be able to apply for all their children together. Most families prioritize paying for a child old enough to work, says Hooker. |
| “For a lot of people, $465 is unattainable in itself. If you were to eliminate the cost barrier to DACA, the application numbers would increase,” says Krsna Avilla, legal services manager at Educators for Fair Consideration, who has previously worked with Maldonado on her DACA application. While for some families the decision comes down to choosing between children, for others it comes down to their financial priorities. “They are asking themselves, ‘Am I going to spend it on that or on rent?’” he says. | “For a lot of people, $465 is unattainable in itself. If you were to eliminate the cost barrier to DACA, the application numbers would increase,” says Krsna Avilla, legal services manager at Educators for Fair Consideration, who has previously worked with Maldonado on her DACA application. While for some families the decision comes down to choosing between children, for others it comes down to their financial priorities. “They are asking themselves, ‘Am I going to spend it on that or on rent?’” he says. |
| “I waited for six to seven months. It was kind of tedious to go over all the requirements, making sure I had everything,” says Iliana Perez, who came to the US in 1995, when she was eight-years-old. She admits that the process would have been easier with a lawyer's help, but she couldn’t afford to pay for one. Instead, her dad helped her go over her all the paperwork – at no cost, of course. | “I waited for six to seven months. It was kind of tedious to go over all the requirements, making sure I had everything,” says Iliana Perez, who came to the US in 1995, when she was eight-years-old. She admits that the process would have been easier with a lawyer's help, but she couldn’t afford to pay for one. Instead, her dad helped her go over her all the paperwork – at no cost, of course. |
| Cost was a factor for my brother and me. However, our parents pitched in for the application fee. We looked at it as a benefit for the family as a whole. And we are fortunate that both our parents work and save and were able to put money away. | Cost was a factor for my brother and me. However, our parents pitched in for the application fee. We looked at it as a benefit for the family as a whole. And we are fortunate that both our parents work and save and were able to put money away. |
| Though their applications cost $930, her family asked a free DACA clinic in Fresno to have their applications reviewed at no cost. Since DACA went into effect, in August 2012, non-profits focused on immigration have partnered with local and state bar associations, as well as other legal organizations, to set up DACA clinics that help undocumented families for free. Because she worked as an independent contractor, and paid taxes through a tax number, Perez was able to cover part of her application fee and obtain a work permit through DACA. Her younger brother, who was brought to the US from Mexico at the same time as Perez, has not been able to contribute because he has not worked yet. | |
| Lending circles and grants | Lending circles and grants |
| Others, instead of relying on family to cover costs, have turned to elsewhere for money. In order to cover the cost of her application, Maldonado is currently working with the Mission Asset Fund in San Francisco. The fund organizes lending circles among young immigrants to help them get together the necessary funds. | Others, instead of relying on family to cover costs, have turned to elsewhere for money. In order to cover the cost of her application, Maldonado is currently working with the Mission Asset Fund in San Francisco. The fund organizes lending circles among young immigrants to help them get together the necessary funds. |
| Lending circles are a traditional practice of lending within immigrant communities, explains Jose Quinonez, executive director of the fund. A group will agree to contribute a specific amount each month. Then, in the months to come, the participants alternate the months in which they collect the full amounts raised. It’s easier for 10 participants to pay $31 each month, and raise $310 per person, than to pay $310 in one straight shot, explains Quinonez. The fund works with legal organizations, which link circles to those who can review applications. “When they tell us, ‘This person is done,’ then we cut the check and they append it to their application,” he says. | Lending circles are a traditional practice of lending within immigrant communities, explains Jose Quinonez, executive director of the fund. A group will agree to contribute a specific amount each month. Then, in the months to come, the participants alternate the months in which they collect the full amounts raised. It’s easier for 10 participants to pay $31 each month, and raise $310 per person, than to pay $310 in one straight shot, explains Quinonez. The fund works with legal organizations, which link circles to those who can review applications. “When they tell us, ‘This person is done,’ then we cut the check and they append it to their application,” he says. |
| When DACA first went into effect, the fund began organizing lending circles with a focus on those eligible for the program, subsidizing $155 of the $465 fee, and offering interest-free loans, payable within five to 10 months. “The issue [of cost] is even more poignant for young folks, who are not working or don’t have a steady job,” says Quinonez. According to him, most of the 300 people who have participated in San Francisco area lending circles have been in their teens. | When DACA first went into effect, the fund began organizing lending circles with a focus on those eligible for the program, subsidizing $155 of the $465 fee, and offering interest-free loans, payable within five to 10 months. “The issue [of cost] is even more poignant for young folks, who are not working or don’t have a steady job,” says Quinonez. According to him, most of the 300 people who have participated in San Francisco area lending circles have been in their teens. |
| A number of lucky applicants have found grants to cover the entire cost of their applications. | A number of lucky applicants have found grants to cover the entire cost of their applications. |
| “Some people have noticed that cost is a barrier, and have made an initiative to create grants," says Jesus Barrios, who moved to the US in 1994 at three-years-old. "The way I was able to pay off my application was through a Liberty Hill grant." | “Some people have noticed that cost is a barrier, and have made an initiative to create grants," says Jesus Barrios, who moved to the US in 1994 at three-years-old. "The way I was able to pay off my application was through a Liberty Hill grant." |
| The grant that covered the cost of Barrios’ application was launched by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, the Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr Fund and the Liberty Hill Foundation to help LGBT DACA applicants. | The grant that covered the cost of Barrios’ application was launched by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, the Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr Fund and the Liberty Hill Foundation to help LGBT DACA applicants. |
| Beware of scams | Beware of scams |
| However, as with any situation involving money and people who need it, scammers have cropped up. According to Barrios, a number of the clinics he helped organize for the National Youth Immigrant Alliance were born of the need to combat misinformation, which was spread by those looking to make money off potential DACA applicants. | However, as with any situation involving money and people who need it, scammers have cropped up. According to Barrios, a number of the clinics he helped organize for the National Youth Immigrant Alliance were born of the need to combat misinformation, which was spread by those looking to make money off potential DACA applicants. |
| Organizations such as American Immigration Lawyers Association and Immigrant Legal Resource Center have issued warnings of possible scams to DACA applicants. Most common are organizations charging applicants for providing them with the free application itself – which is available through USCIS – and notarios or "immigration consultants", who are not authorized to provide legal advice to immigrants. | Organizations such as American Immigration Lawyers Association and Immigrant Legal Resource Center have issued warnings of possible scams to DACA applicants. Most common are organizations charging applicants for providing them with the free application itself – which is available through USCIS – and notarios or "immigration consultants", who are not authorized to provide legal advice to immigrants. |
| There are, however, DACA applicants who can’t afford to cut costs by attending free DACA clinics and need a lawyer to assist them, such as people currently in deportation proceedings and anyone with red flags on their criminal record. | There are, however, DACA applicants who can’t afford to cut costs by attending free DACA clinics and need a lawyer to assist them, such as people currently in deportation proceedings and anyone with red flags on their criminal record. |
| Two years' relief … and then what? | Two years' relief … and then what? |
| Many undocumented applicants like Iliana Perez have also been hesitant to apply for DACA because it is only a temporary fix, providing them with a work permit that expires after two years. USCIS has offered little guidance regarding the renewal process, she says. “You may request consideration for a two-year extension of deferred action, through a process to be detailed in the future,” reads the USCIS website. | Many undocumented applicants like Iliana Perez have also been hesitant to apply for DACA because it is only a temporary fix, providing them with a work permit that expires after two years. USCIS has offered little guidance regarding the renewal process, she says. “You may request consideration for a two-year extension of deferred action, through a process to be detailed in the future,” reads the USCIS website. |
| The renewal process as well as concern for her family have kept Maldonado from applying earlier. Distrust mixes with concern for her family, especially towards President Obama, whose administration is responsible for a record number of deportations. Skepticism towards authorities can be strong within immigrant communities, for understandable reasons. | The renewal process as well as concern for her family have kept Maldonado from applying earlier. Distrust mixes with concern for her family, especially towards President Obama, whose administration is responsible for a record number of deportations. Skepticism towards authorities can be strong within immigrant communities, for understandable reasons. |
| “My mother needs a social security number and a driver’s license more than I do,” she tells the Guardian, referring to herself as a "privileged undocumented young person". “Our families are supporting us. They brought us here. This is more than a feeling of guilt, it’s a privilege check.” | “My mother needs a social security number and a driver’s license more than I do,” she tells the Guardian, referring to herself as a "privileged undocumented young person". “Our families are supporting us. They brought us here. This is more than a feeling of guilt, it’s a privilege check.” |
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