San Francisco city gov’t will shoulder DACA renewal fees

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. WIKIPEDIA

SAN FRANCISCO — The city government will pay for the $495 application fee for all Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who need to renew their enrollment before the October 5 deadline, Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the Board of Supervisors announced Wednesday, September 21.

“We want to remove as many barriers as possible to help these brave young individuals prepare for the October 5 deadline,” said Lee.

Lee said that government had encouraged DACA recipients to “step out of the shadows to pursue a better life in America, and we need to honor our commitment to their cause.”

“These individuals are diligent students and dedicated workers who have only known this country as their home. We are proud to pay for their DACA application fees and we will continue to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform in this country,” the mayor added.

To remain within the DACA program, enrollees must renew their application every two years. Due to President Donald Trump’s decision to end DACA, October 5 will be the last time that members of the current program will be able to renew their application.

Historically, San Francisco provided subsidies based on need to help cover the application costs of DACA recipients, but due to the urgency of the October 5 deadline, all renewal fees will be fully funded.

The funds for the DACA recipients will be administered through the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) as part of its integrated immigrant assistance initiative, which includes citizenship, deferred action, community grants, language assistance, the DreamSF Fellowship and workforce development.

OCEIA will host a free DACA Renewal Workshop on Saturday, September 23 at Mission High School from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Onsite legal assistance and screenings will be provided and renewal application fees for DACA recipients will be fully covered.

About 800,000 young residents across the country, including approximately 76,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area, are affected by Trump’s decision to end DACA.