The Supreme Court ruling on immigration announced this past June has put a stop to the future of the programs DAPA and DACA Extended (DACA+) and with that, the hopes of so many Latino families across the country remain crushed.
Despite this set back, TRP’s Institution for Naturalization and Community Ownership (INCO) continues to work providing people with the right information and the tools they need on a case by case basis.  One of the areas where INCO’s assistance has been vital for the community is the DACA 2012 program.  Among other negative effects, the recent court ruling created a lot of confusion since people incorrectly assumed that the program had been cancelled.  That’s where INCO’s leaders and volunteers step in, going out in the community and letting people know that the original DACA 2012 remains in full effect.
It is in times of uncertainty that the support of community leaders becomes essential.  According to INCO’s team, very often students reach out to TRP to enroll for DACA and that’s when they realize that they qualify for a more permanent form of relief to their immigration problem.
In terms of next steps after the court ruling, TRP’s Immigration Department is ready to continue mobilizing and getting eligible immigrants to vote.  Community leaders across the board are hopeful about the upcoming election and their focus is now to facilitate Voter Registration.  “TRP has helped a lot of permanent legal residents become citizens.  Now we are tracking those citizens so that they can register to vote,” explains Tabitha Martinez, Community Organizer at TRP.
It’s important to highlight that through its INCO department, TRP continues to offer DACA 2012 workshops that are held in various locations (usually Parishes) in the Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards neighborhoods.
The requirements for DACA applicants are the following:

• Students should have arrived in the U.S. before 16 years of age
• Date of entry to the U.S. should be prior to 06/15/2007
• They need to have been physically present in the U.S. on 6/15/2012
• Need to have graduated from High School, be enrolled in High School, or have a GED
• Need to be born after 6/15/1981
• DACA can be renewed after two years

Now more than ever, TRP and its partners will continue to educate the community so that they have the correct information that will allow them to be active participants in their own future.
To learn more about INCO’s services and DACA applications please visit: https://resurrectionproject.org/our-departments/institution-for-naturalization-and-community-ownership/