Chico >> Options for assistance are available for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients looking to renew their applications to extend their work permits for two more years.

Local immigration attorney Andrew Holley is hosting free DACA renewal clinics every Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon, until the Oct. 5 deadline. They will be in his office at 30 Independence Circle, Suite 400.

He said DACA renewal before the deadline allows recipients to extend their permits passed the March 5, 2018 expiration date that has been set for the end of the program.

“Trump didn’t just cancel DACA and say it’s over,” he said. “DACA is a program, but with DACA comes a work permit. Typically, those permits are good for two years and you have to pay $495 to renew it.”

Although the legal help with filing the application is free at Holley’s office, DACA renewals require the $495 immigration filing fee. In addition to the $495 check, Holley also is asking that people looking to renew their application bring their current work permit card, prior DACA approval notices and two 49 cent stamps.

Anyone who has a DACA permit that is set to expire between Oct. 5 and March 5, 2018 can apply to renew DACA before Oct. 5, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“They need to do that because they need to extend their lawful status in the United States as long as they can,” he said. “A work permit with dates on the work permit is proof of legal status in the United States.”

Without renewal, those without DACA will lose their work permits and could be subjected to deportation. For those who have never applied for DACA, they no longer have the opportunity to file an application because initial applications are no longer being accepted, Holley said.

“”A lot of people were worried that it was a bad idea to renew under Trump, and I always said it was a better idea to renew it,” he said. “Yes there’s a risk, but it’s safer and less risky to renew and have lawful status than to not.”

Holley said there is a fear among those who have come to his office to renew DACA. Now that Donald Trump is president, the fear is that immigration agents will use the address information on the application to come and look for people as soon as their work permit expires.

The majority of people coming in to renew their DACA are college-age adults that attend either Chico State University or Butte College.

“The kids aren’t frightened so much,” Holley said. “There’s that courage that comes with being young. A lot of these kids are 18 to 23 years old and still living at home and their parents are worried for them.”

Aside from Holley’s free legal assistance, other institutions are offering help.

Chico State’s Dream Center, a space created to support undocumented students, is asking for sponsors to make a tax-deductible donation to help DACA recipients. The donations are to help students meet the required $495 application filing fee.

Donations can be made with debit or credit card online, and will be used to create “Dream Awards” for students to pay the application renewal fee. Students can apply for assistance by contacting the Dream Center in Siskiyou 115 or by calling 898-5818. Donations must be made by Sept. 28 to meet the filing deadline.

Reach reporter Bianca Quilantan at 896-7758.