The Oct. 5 deadline to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status is fast approaching, and the controversial issue saw three U.S. representatives arrested this week.
Arizona’s Raúl Grijalva was among those arrested at the protest in New York City outside of Trump Tower. The demosntrators reportedly blocked traffic and refused to leave, citing what they call a criminalization of the immigrant community on the part of the administration.
Grijalva said on social media that he was proud to have been arrested while standing up for what he says is right.
The Mexican Consulate in Tucson is hosting a workshop for DACA recipients and one-on-one consultation with immigration attorneys. They’re also offering information to those who may choose to return to Mexico.
The events have taken place every weekend since the Trump administration announced it would eliminate DACA.
Arizona Week spoke to a diplomat at the consulate, as well as a DACA recipient who has lived in the U.S. since the age of one.
The cost to apply for DACA status is nearly $500. That’s not including other legal feels, like paying for a lawyer. We spoke to an immigration attorney volunteering at the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, who says they are helping DACA recipients process paperwork and understand the legal ramifications of the program.
Arizona Week also sat down with the co-director of the immigration law clinic at the University of Arizona for a deeper analysis of the program’s legalese.
Around 800,000 people are currently enrolled in the DACA.
In Tucson, the Mexican Consulate houses a call center answering questions related to the program. The consulate says the 40 operators at the center are fielding calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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