Local Efforts to Aid Dreamers: ACTIONN and PLAN

Video produced by Jolie Ross, Shot by: Natalie Van Hoozer Photos by: Narumi Kobayashi

On September 5,2017 the Trump administration announced they would be ending DACA. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, has slowly been fading away in order to renew for the children of immigrants that came into the United States. DACA has helped 13,000 Nevadans alone and 800,000 youth nationwide that came into the United States at young age.

Most of the DACA recipients who currently have their authorization will expire between September 5,2017 and March 5, 2018. During that time, the final renewal for the DACA program was October 5,2017. Though this date has already passed there are many organizations within the Reno area that have created a program to help DACA recipients and their families into staying within the United States.

The PLAN office

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, PLAN

Locations & Contact:

RENO

203 South Arlington Avenue

Reno, Nevada 89501

P: 775.348.7557

F: 775.348.7707

LAS VEGAS

2330 Paseo Del Prado

Suite C109

Las Vegas, NV 89102

P: 702.791.1965

F: 702.791.1992

As noted on their website, PLAN “believes that fellow Nevadans should not have to live in fear of deportation or be perpetually criminalized.” This organization provides an output to advocate basic human rights within the United States, allowing people to conduct their first amendment rights. PLAN, has been helping at multiple organization meet ups; such as, helping at the DACA renewal clinics and keeping their doors open for people that don’t know where else to go for help. PLAN also has a Citizenship & Immigration Service Program of Northern Nevada.

Claudia Castaneda of PLAN during a DACA demonstration at the University of Nevada, Reno. Photo by Dalyn Cooke

“We are one of the organizations that works with IOP, Project Dreamers. With Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada we are very involved with the community and actually very involved in trying to get with Congressman Amodei, and in the south with Dean Heller,” Claudia Castaneda, PLAN Organizer, said.

The Citizen & Immigration Service Program by PLAN helps the following qualified individuals with:

• Adjustment Status

• Assistance at CIS Interviews

• Cancelation of removal

• Deferred Action (DACA)

• EOIR Deportation/ removal defense

• Family Petitions

• LPR Card Renewal

• Naturalization

• Remotion of Temporary Condition

• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

• Work Authorization

This organization had prepared a renewal for application for those reapplying for DACA during September before the deadline, and had also put together a DACA rally and Press conference.

“To the community, stay safe. Don’t get into any trouble at all, don’t be involved with the police because that can and will put you at risk. Deportation is not one day to the other it does take some time, but please seek advice of an attorney,” Castaneda said.

If you think that you, a friend, loved one or neighbor needs help during this time, contact PLAN at +1-775-800-1851.

Acting in Community Together in Organizing Northern Nevada, ACTIONN

Location & Contact:

627 Sunnyside Drive

Reno, NV 89503

(775) 453-6137

info@actionn.org

Acting in Community Together in Organizing Northern Nevada, ACTIONN partners with faith communities. As written on their website ACTIONN “seeks to catalyze and cultivate a faith-based social justice movement in Northern Nevada by bringing together communities deeply rooted in faith and communities deeply rooted in the pain of injustice to organize and advocate for positive systemic change.”

ACTIONN, in the past, has worked with Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada to ensure their status as a sanctuary church for immigrants. By doing this, they helped to block the deportation of a father of two for one year that way he could be with his children longer. The ACTIONN program, helped during the resigning of DACA students as well, and are ready to help fight for the support of allowing DACA recipients and their families to stay within the United States.

Though the ability to renew DACA has passed, these two organizations can help you, friends, or family with any immigration issue.