26 Sep 2017
On Sunday, September 24, 15 students participated in a walk-in clinic to help individuals renew their DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. DACA, a program started in 2012, permits individuals who were brought to the United States as children to receive deferred action and employment authorization. The current Administration announced on September 5 that it is discontinuing the DACA Program. Those whose DACA status expires before March 5, 2018 are eligible to apply to renew their status, provided the renewal application is filed before October 5, 2017.
The Mexican Consulate in Omaha approached the Immigration Clinic at the College of Law about hosting a walk-in clinic to help interested individuals renew their DACA status before October 5. Current Immigration students Morgan Nelson, Miranda Rogers, and Phong Tran organized the walk-in clinic.
Students who volunteered to help with the clinic attended a three-hour training on basic immigration law. The clinic on September 24 ran from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and was held in the Schmid Clinic Building. The Mexican Consulate also had a presence at the clinic.
Students who participated in the DACA clinic are: Sydney Aase, Kelsey Arends, Paloma Contreras, Meaghan Geraghty, Damon Hudson, Nicole Iraola, Stephen King, Daniel Martin, Megan Meyerson, Adam Onken, Deanna Pina, and David Shea. Assistant Dean Tasha Everman also participated in the clinic.
The students who participated in the clinic were authorized to provide legal assistance to clients under a federal regulation that allows law students enrolled in an accredited law school to provide immigration legal services to clients. Such students must be supervised by a faculty member who is a licensed attorney. The students participating in the DACA clinic were supervised by Professor Kevin Ruser.