Financial Assistance for DACA Recipients Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

Implemented in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) has given approximately 800,000 people legal work status and temporary protection for deportation. In 2017, the Trump administration announced plans to end DACA, effectively endangering the status of DACA recipients, or “Dreamers.” Combined with fee increases and mounting proposals in the Supreme Court, DACA recipients are left with a significant amount of emotional and financial stress. In fact, the U.S. has around 1.2 million people who are eligible for DACA, though some have not applied because they either can’t afford the fees or are afraid to draw attention to themselves.

One of the main sources of stress for DACA recipients stemmed from statements made by President Donald Trump regarding the DACA program in September 2017. At that time, Trump’s administration threatened to end the DACA program, declaring that no one new would be protected under the program. The administration also stated at the time that those who were covered would lose their protection and work permits starting as early as March 6, 2018.

The administration tried to push forward with the changes, but ran into roadblocks on June 18, 2020, when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of DACA recipients and restored the 2012 Obama Administration DACA policy.

This ruling should reopen DACA for new applicants, reopen “advance parole,” and allow current DACA recipients to continue to renew their status, though there is no timeline for when new applications will open for first-time applicants. There is also no clear timeline for applying for advance parole, which, prior to Trump’s changes, allowed DACA recipients to leave the country for educational, employment and humanitarian reasons.

While the Supreme Court ruling was a major win for DACA (and DACA recipients across the nation), the fight is unfortunately not over. Trump can still attempt to repeal the ruling for a second time, which is why it’s crucial for DACA recipients to renew their protections as soon as possible.

And there’s another issue. While major improvements are happening to reinstate DACA, DACA recipients now face a new challenge, too: the COVID-19 pandemic. The $2 trillion stimulus bill that was passed leaves out immigrant families. To receive the stimulus check, everyone living in the home must have a social security number. If anyone in the home files with an individual tax identification number (ITIN), the family will not qualify for the assistance. Unlike other residents of the United States, DACA recipients will receive little financial help from the United States government, even if the pandemic has caused them to lose their job.

In the midst of a health crisis, Dreamers now face a mounting financial crisis with almost no access to the government benefits many of their neighbors enjoy — despite the fact that DACA and eligible immigrants pay approximately $2 billion a year in state and local taxes. As they have made myriad contributions to American society, it’s time for society to help Dreamers in return by providing them with the care and financial assistance they deserve.

Below, you’ll find answers to your most important questions as well as a long list of financial resources that can help.

LIST OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

DACA during COVID-19

The Center for American Progress says the largest occupation groups for DACA recipients are food preparation and office administration support. Significant portions of Dreamers work in sales, education, the nonprofit sector and in the medical field, meaning that many are essential workers.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are still accepting requests from DACA recipients to renew their status during COVID-19, but because of a preliminary injunction in 2018, they are not accepting requests from individuals who haven’t previously been granted DACA status. There is still the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could rule to allow the program to end DACA during the pandemic. This would not only put the lives of Dreamers at risk, but it could also put some 27,000 medical professionals fighting on the front lines of this crisis out of work.

It’s understandable to be fearful or confused about what this means for your status and your ability to obtain services. Here are answers to some of the most pressing questions you may have during this time.

Are DACA recipients getting the proper care they need — especially if they’re sick?

DACA recipients are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic because they already face enormous hurdles in acquiring services. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, about 39% of individuals with DACA status are uninsured. They don’t have access to financial assistance through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces, either.

But DACA recipients won’t be turned away from medical facilities. The National Immigration Law Center says, “Immigrants can continue to access services at community health centers, regardless of their immigration status, and at a reduced cost or free of charge depending on their income.” Additionally, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides funding to pay for COVID-19 testing at community health centers, outpatient clinics and doctors’ offices, even for people who are uninsured.

Are immigration offices closing down?

Several U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices are closing down due to the pandemic. The USCIS is only providing emergency services for a limited number of situations. Anyone who had a previous appointment or ceremony will receive a notice by mail, and they will receive an additional notice for when the event is rescheduled.

How are DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants’ jobs and classes affected with everything closing?

Dreamers will be one of the hardest hit groups as schools and businesses shut down. Many DACA recipients occupy roles in food service — an industry that is already facing massive layoffs. More than 10 million people applied for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks of March, 2020. But, in addition to the other difficulties mentioned, DACA recipients can’t qualify for federal unemployment benefits.

Immigrants can still renew a work permit, DACA status or temporary protected status (TPS) through the USCIS. Although many offices are closed, the USCIS announced it would allow electronic or photocopied signatures on the I-129 form, which is necessary for work authorization.

Many colleges are closing their campuses due to the pandemic and moving classes online. As such, DACA recipients who are in college should be able to continue attending class online. However, some DACA recipients may face another threat due to school closures: food and housing insecurity. Additionally, they could also struggle to attend class if they don’t have access to a reliable internet connection.

Does the stimulus package include undocumented immigrants?

Many DACA recipients are on the front lines in the medical and first responder community during this pandemic. And yet, the $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress provides no aid to undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients. To receive assistance, DACA recipients must turn to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), state governments, private institutions and other cooperative groups for help.

DACA recipients may be hesitant to search for government assistance, especially in light of the new “Public Charge” regulation, which deems some immigrants “inadmissible” if the government determines they cannot support themselves financially.

According to Renata Castro Esq., an immigration attorney and Founder of Castro Legal Group in Pompano Beach, Florida, “DACA applicants shall be rather careful in seeking financial help, in light of the Public Charge rule implemented by the Trump administration.”

That said, Castro also insists that DACA recipients still have certain rights under the law: “DACA recipients have full rights to any employment law-related remedy irrespective of their legal status, such as wrongful termination. I have also taken the position that it is safe to collect unemployment benefits where available. Assistance from private companies offering relief does not impact the Public Charge analysis in a future petition.”

J.J. Despain, Managing Attorney at Wilner & O’Reilly Immigration Attorneys in Boise, Idaho also believes most DACA recipients are safe to pursue at least some relief benefits in light of COVID-19. “There are certain public benefits that DACA recipients won’t qualify for because they do not have permanent residency or U.S. citizenship. However, they won’t get in trouble for asking [about] these benefits, as long as they are truthful about their immigration status,” he says. “A person’s qualifying for DACA and a work permit is not dependent on whether that person is or is not getting financial assistance.”

Despain also notes that “the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has come out to say that if COVID-19 is what spurred the need to apply for public benefits, those public benefits will not count against that future permanent resident.” In other words, DACA recipients who apply for public benefits due to a loss from COVID-19 won’t likely be putting their immigration status at risk as long as they are honest in their application. Nonetheless, Despain suggests most DACA recipients speak with an immigration attorney before attempting to claim benefits.

If you are experiencing feelings of stress or fear while searching for financial assistance, know that there are advocates out there, including attorneys, advocates, and volunteers.

Financial assistance for DACA recipients

There are multiple ways DACA recipients can receive financial assistance during times of economic hardship. Here are just a few of the approaches that can help. Below, we’ve also included an extensive list of organizations that can provide assistance to DACA recipients during this crisis.

Personal loans

One option to help make ends meet is to apply for a personal loan. You can also use a personal loan to pay for DACA renewal fees if you don’t have cash on hand to pay them immediately. The cost of renewing/applying for DACA is $495, so you could cover the cost with a relatively small personal loan.

There are pros and cons to this approach, however. 

The biggest benefit to a personal loan is that the funds could be made available immediately if you qualify. You can also use a personal loan for almost anything, whether it’s food, bills or transportation. They’re available from a variety of lenders, including credit unions, banks and online lenders.

On the other hand, taking on a personal loan means taking on debt. If you’ve lost your income and don’t know when you’ll get it back, you could run into trouble when it comes time to start making repayments on your loan. Personal loans also come with higher rates than some other types of loans, so you’ll end up paying more in the long run. You may also need to pay origination fees, and you’ll need to make fixed payments at regular intervals to avoid late payment fees.

Credit unions have a long history of empowering immigrants by providing broader financial access to communities that need it. They are non-profit organizations that work to serve their members, not generate profit at all costs. Credit unions are more likely to accept alternative forms of ID, and they may even provide specific loans for DACA recipients and under-banked individuals struggling during the pandemic.

Finally, you could take out a personal loan through an online lender. Many online lenders are startups that were created specifically to serve underbanked populations. They are more likely to use factors other than your credit score to determine your creditworthiness. If you go this route, just be sure to understand the online lender’s rates and repayment terms before agreeing to the loan.

Credit cards

Credit cards are another option for covering expenses in the interim, although they also come with advantages and disadvantages.

Unlike a personal loan, you can make minimum payments on your credit card each month if you need to. Your debt will accrue more interest this way, but you’ll have more opportunities to purchase the things you need and save your cash during the pandemic. You can also use a credit card to build credit, and you may not need to link it to a checking or savings account.

However, similar to a personal loan, you’ll end up paying interest by using a credit card, and you’ll have to pay a fee if you’re late on your monthly payment. Credit cards are also notoriously easy to use. If you spend too much and fail to make payments, you could ruin your credit score and rack up a significant amount of debt.

Unlike the cash you get from a personal loan, credit cards can’t be used for every expense, either. Most landlords won’t accept rent payments on a credit card, and you can’t pay most bills with a credit card.

Nonprofit organizations

Although the offices of many nonprofit organizations are closed due to COVID-19, many are still providing remote services. While few nonprofit groups are providing direct assistance to immigrants through cash funds, most are providing food, housing assistance, utility assistance, and even childcare services. You can also access legal assistance and loans to pay for DACA renewal fees from some NGOs.

Unlike banks and even credit unions, most NGOs offer assistance with no strings attached. Their purpose is to offer that assistance, not make a profit. However, most nonprofits can only perform limited functions to maintain their tax-exempt status, and few of them provide direct financial assistance without offering a loan.

The availability of help from nonprofits may also depend on where you live. Most nonprofits keep their offices in larger towns and cities. You may not be able to access their in-person services if you live far away, even if they are available during the pandemic.

State benefits and services

Aside from work authorization, DACA recipients cannot receive any benefits from the federal government. This includes benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, sometimes referred to as “food stamps”) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Any Dreamer who wants to obtain financial assistance from a government body must turn to the state in which they live, or even the county or city.

Unfortunately, laws regarding benefits for DACA recipients vary state by state. However, according to Jon Velie, Lead Attorney for Velie Law firm and CEO of OnlineVISAs.com, “Those recipients who live within the states of California, Colorado, New York, and Texas are eligible for unemployment benefits. These benefits will not be counted against you based on the new Public Charge regulation. Recipients should check their state’s website to determine if they qualify.”

Your state may have other programs that help Dreamers when they are facing financial hardship. Check your state’s website for a list of available resources to address the pandemic or browse state benefits at Benefits.gov. We’ve also included a long list of resources below, including non-profits, credit unions and NGOs, which are organized by state.

Grassroots funds

Grassroots funds are often crowdsourced from willing donors. They may be linked to an association or a nonprofit, but they could also be established by a loosely-organized collective within a community.

Grassroots funds usually provide direct assistance in the form of cash, food, clothing or household supplies. Help is often available upon request, and there usually isn’t much red tape to get assistance.

Keep in mind that Grassroots funds that aren’t attached to an association or nonprofit may not be organized very effectively, so they may also be unreliable. The organizers may not be able to guarantee assistance to everyone who applies, and any cash assistance you receive may be small and may not be enough to cover all your bills.

The availability of grassroots funding may also depend on where you live. If you have an extensive network of friends and family who may be able to help, you could also consider starting your own funding campaign through crowdsourcing sites like GoFundMe.

Organizations that can help

Below, you’ll find an extensive list of organizations that can help DACA recipients during the coronavirus pandemic. These organizations range from credit unions and non-profits to commercial lenders and faith-based groups, and they provide a range of services including food assistance, COVID relief funds assistance, mortgage refinancing support, and others.

Note that there could be some disruptions to services due to the pandemic. However, most organizations are still serving their communities remotely.

National organizations

State organizations

Mutual aid networks

If you need direct financial assistance, food assistance or supplies immediately and can’t find any resources in your area, you could search for a nearby mutual aid network.

Mutual aid networks are decentralized, grass-roots cooperatives that provide direct assistance to local communities. They aren’t backed by any organization, however, so they can’t always guarantee they’ll fulfill a request for assistance. Many mutual aid networks are accepting requests for assistance online, using Google Forms.

The bottom line

There are nearly 800,000 Dreamers in the United States. They own businesses, make significant cultural contributions to our society and are essential employees working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Although the federal government is providing DACA recipients with little support during this crisis, there are plenty of organizations out there that want to help. Nonprofits and charity organizations are still working hard to provide the most vulnerable among us with the basics they need to get by, and there are alternative ways to obtain funding and temporary assistance.