Across the Country, NCLR Affiliates and Partners Are Ready for Administrative Relief

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We are just days away from the application period for the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The application process for Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) will be here in May before we know it, so this is a great time for organizations to share ideas and effective practices. This week, approximately 400 people from across the country gathered for the Ready America conference in Northern Virginia to do just that. The conference was an opportunity for organizations from different sectors to be inspired, learn, and coordinate on the implementation of administrative relief.

NCLR has been working with our colleagues in the Committee on Immigration Reform Implementation (CIRI) in planning for the conference and we were excited that 35 Affiliates participated in the three-day conference on preparing for the implementation of administrative relief. There was representation from each of the regions and the Affiliates were able to participate in workshops covering policy, community outreach, collaborations, and service delivery models. NCLR Senior Cabinet Advisor Charles Kamasaki organized a workshop highlighting research efforts related to administrative relief, which allowed researchers to connect with practitioners and for practitioners to share what research would be helpful.

Lindsay Daniels, manager of NCLR’s Wealth-Building Initiative, organized a workshop on the small-dollar lending programs that could help people cover application fees. The panel featured NCLR Affiliates doing this work, such as Mission Asset Fund from San Francisco and the Resurrection Project from Chicago. Research shows that non-U.S. citizens are more likely to manage their financial lives outside of the mainstream financial system. This limits the financial options they have to fund opportunities like applying for DACA or DAPA. Immigrants who are eligible for deferred action and receive work permits can expand their economic outlook by securing better wages. Their contributions to the tax system will also strengthen the nation’s economy.

We know that administrative relief will provide significant benefits, such as improved job opportunities and educational gains, which is why we need a robust nonprofit infrastructure to assist people in coming forward to apply. NCLR Affiliates have been involved in the implementation of action on immigration going back to the reform of 1986 and as recently as the implementation of DACA. There is a wealth of expertise and experience within our network that we can leverage for this landmark moment. We look forward to working with our Affiliates and national partners in highlighting successful service delivery models and promoting the most effective implementation program designs.

Visit the NCLR website for more information on eligibility and how to apply for expanded DACA and the DAPA program.

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