Aug. 16 Info Sessions will be in San Antonio, Laredo

The St. Mary’s University DACA Project wants to celebrate two years of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by doing what it does best – protect youth from deportation and help them get a work permit, a Social Security number, a driver’s license, and an education.

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation is sponsoring DACA Day events statewide on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, to raise awareness of the benefits of DACA and provide coordinated legal services. DACA is a federal policy directive that marks its second anniversary on Aug. 15, 2014.

The St. Mary’s DACA Project will host two of these events – in San Antonio at the St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social Justice and in Laredo at the Main Laredo Public Library – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In 2012, the St. Mary’s University Center for Legal and Social Justice began providing free legal assistance to people applying for DACA. The DACA Project helps eligible low-income individuals who came to the United States as children. Counselors screen applicants for permanent forms of immigration relief and inform them about what to expect during and after the application process.

The St. Mary’s DACA Project is located within the Center for Legal and Social Justice at 2507 NW 36th St., San Antonio, Texas, 78228. For more information, call 210-431-5730 or email stmarysdream@stmarytx.edu. For Laredo information, call 956-728-7583 or email stmarysdreamlaredo@stmarytx.edu.

In addition to free legal services from the St. Mary’s DACA Project, the event will include information tables and educational presentations throughout the day. Community partners in San Antonio include the St. Mary’s University Office of Financial Assistance, St. Mary’s University School of Law Tax Clinic Program, Café College, Teach for America, Alamo Community College District, University of the Incarnate Word, Texas A&M University San Antonio, and University of Texas at San Antonio.

Community partners in Laredo include the St. Mary’s University Office of Financial Assistance, St. Mary’s University School of Law Tax Clinic Program, Texas A&M International University, Laredo Community College, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Border Affairs, Casa de Misericordia/Mercy Ministries, The Holding Institute, and the Mexican Consulate – Laredo.

DACA is granted for a two-year period and may be renewed 150 days before expiration or earlier.

People who meet DACA requirements are known as “DREAMers” because they largely meet the requirements of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. There are roughly 1.4 million immigrants in the United States who might meet DACA requirements, according to the American Immigration Council. More than 226,000 of them are in Texas – second only to California.

The mission of the Center for Legal and Social Justice is to provide a supporting learning environment for law students who, under the supervision of a licensed attorney, will provide legal services for low-income clients who are not adequately served by other providers.

Back to top