Campaign Action
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that an anonymous donor has cut a check for $125,000 to pay for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal fees of hundreds of undocumented immigrant youth in the state:
"Nearly 18,000 DREAMers call Washington state home, and the cruel actions of the Trump Administration threatens the ability of these aspiring young men and women to go to school or work," Inslee said. "This program will help lessen the financial impact on the DREAmers and their families."
The application fee for DREAMers will be covered by a private donation and administered through the Mission Asset Fund (MAF) in San Francisco. No state funds are being used for the application fees.
With the anonymous, private donation of $125,000, approximately 250 Washington residents will be eligible for DACA application fee scholarships.
With an Oct. 5 filing date quickly approaching for those eligible for renewals, this initiative is just the latest when it comes to communities stepping up to assist DACA youth. Just days ago, Rhode Island’s governor announced that other private donors had raised $170,000 to pay the DACA fees of every eligible recipient in the state. “We’re not going to allow $495 to stand in the way of our neighbors’ dreams,” said Gov. Gina Raimondo.
“For years, my state of Washington tried to pass its own state Dream Act,”
Gov. Inslee wrote in a recent op-ed. “Many Republicans weren't interested. But some thought differently after they met Dreamers and heard stories that revealed their courage, grit and determination. It is the same determination that built America and will help it continue to thrive.
It was then that these Republicans joined Democrats in doing the right thing. I hope that same spirit can work in Washington, D.C., like it did in our state capitol.”