LOS ANGELES – In a press conference held on Wednesday, September 4, the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) said that only 3,500 applications for temporary deportation relief have been filed out of the 50,000 eligible Filipino youth across the US.
PWC held the press conference in Historic Filipinotown, in cooperation with non-profit organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA).
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, PWC pointed out that as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy hit its first year since its implementation began in 2012, more than half a million people have already applied with high approval rate.
However, with only seven percent of Filipino youths applying for DACA, the rest (roughly 45,000 youths across America ) are still living in the shadows when they could already be living free of fear from deportation, with two-year work authorization, and access to drivers’ licenses, the PWC explained.
In July 2012, the Department of Homeland Security announced that individuals who arrived in the United States as children and who meet certain key criteria would be allowed to apply for deferred action status for a period of two years.
The deferred action status, which is renewable every two years, allows a person to acquire eligibility for work authorization.
DACA defers removal proceedings pending against an individuals. However, it does not directly provide a pathway to citizenship.
AAAJ-LA and PWC sought to work collaboratively in disseminating information about DACA to overcome the fears and barriers that have led to the low number of applicant turnout.
“I have seen that there is a lot of fear in our community, especially amongst immigrants without papers,” PWC Staff Attorney Jennifer Ganata said in the statement.
Ganata said that the PWC is aware of the fear that is prevalent among DACA-eligible youth — the same fear which prevents them from applying for the temporary relief.
“If a person does not have a criminal background, there is no reason for them [not to] apply for DACA,” Ganata added.
PWC said that for the almost half-million DACA recipients, the immigration relief has opened many doors to youths across America, among them job and education opportunities. Some DACA grantee students are now able to continue pursuing higher education because of their newly-acquired income-generation capabilities. Many will also be able to put their school-acquired skills and knowledge to use in their jobs, thereby helping their families.
Madison Villanueva, 17, is one of the many Filipino students who have received DACA relief. Villanueva was present at Wednesday’s press conference.
The incoming college freshman talked about how deferred action has helped her and why more Filipino immigrant youths should not hesitate to apply for the program.
PWC also announced in the statement that they will be offering free application processing for qualified youths.
PWC offers limited slots for a program they call “Lending Circles for Dreamers.” Under the program, a DREAMer will receive assistance in putting up the $465 application fee for DACA.
A qualified applicant for Lending Circles will receive $155 as a charitable match and the remaining $310 can be paid off under a no-cost lean with low monthly payments.
According to PWC, the program will allow a DREAMer to submit a DACA application even if they do not have the total application fee amount on hand.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is still uncertain this year, but DACA is hear and now,” PWC Executive Director Aqui Versoza said.
“If you are qualified, [and] with no criminal background, it will only be beneficial for you to apply. We can help you,” she added.
PWC urges all interested Filipino youths and families to reach out to them for more information about DACA. A free consultation session may be scheduled via telephone at (213) 250-4353.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend September 7-10, 2013 Sec A pg.1)