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Las Vegas organization helps 'Dreamers' pay fee for application

Trump administration to resume processing DACA renewals
Posted at 7:49 PM, May 22, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-28 03:40:05-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — At $495, the fee to apply for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, can be an immediate obstacle for undocumented teenagers, some of whom are also afraid of applying to begin with.

That's why Las Vegas organizations are encouraging and helping young people apply for DACA.

Since December, the Immigration Home Foundation has helped more than 300 new applicants and held virtual DACA workshops that have helped more than 1,500 potential DACA recipients.

These bilingual workshops for Dreamers, the term used to refer to young students who have benefited from the DACA program, also include support from Dream Big Nevada and the Consulate of Mexico.

Rafael Lopez Gomez participated in the latest workshop and got his DACA status in 2013, just days before his 24th birthday. Gomez told 13 Action News that it changed his life for good.

Astrid Silva is also a DACA recipient. For years she's been advocating for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers while also being the executive director of Dream Big Nevada.

Now, Dream Big Nevada is giving 17 lucky young men and women the opportunity to get a scholarship to pay for the DACA application fee.

You have until Tuesday to request the scholarship. Dream Big Nevada will be conduct interviews to select those scholarship recipients.

To apply, click here.

For more information about the DACA program, you can contact Dream Big Nevada at dreambignv.org or the Immigration Home Foundation at immigrantfoundation.org.