Sonoma County, SCOE to hold free DACA renewal clinics

The Sonoma County Office of Education has teamed with the county's board of supervisors and counsel, to help Dreamers renew their work permits and protected status before the end of deferred action for childhood arrivals, or DACA.

President Trump announced earlier this month he was phasing out over the next six months the Obama-era policy, which shielded from deportation young people brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents. While the federal government isn't accepting any new applications, existing recipients whose DACA is set to expire by March 5 can apply for a two-year renewal, but it must be done by Oct. 5.

The Sonoma County agencies will hold free renewal clinics, with immigration lawyers on hand to answer questions, assist with DACA applications and inform participants how to receive financial assistance to cover the $495 renewal fee.

The first clinic is scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Petaluma's Lucchesi Community Center. A second clinic will be held from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence Cook Middle School in Santa Rosa, followed by another Sept. 28 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Kawana Springs Elementary in Santa Rosa.

For more details, visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Immigration-Initiative.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 707-521-5458 or eloisa.gonzalez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @eloisanews.