During an Aug.10 interview at the offices of the Mission Asset Fund, Associate Director Daniela Salas said, “We hope that the dream will no longer be out of reach.”
It was at this time that the federal government announced the rules of “Deferred Action,” which would stop the deportation of undocumented people who were underage when brought to the United States. The program, which would help with the payment of that process, was initiated in the Mission.
Salas explained that the $465 payment required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in order to obtain the benefit of Deferred Action is an amount that is “hard to round up” for low-income families.
Daniel Lau, regional manager of the Mission Asset Fund, explained that those looking for help from MAF will only pay two-thirds of the required amount for USCIS. So instead of $465 they will only owe $310, and they can complete the payment in monthly installments of $30-$60; the remaining $155 will be a gift from MAF.
“When those aspiring are ready to register for Deferred Action, MAF will pay the initial $465 to the USCIS,” Lau said.
The participants will then pay the $310 through The Circles of Savings, a system of savings and community loans that MAF created under the governing principles of what’s known as “tandas,” or rotating credit associations, common to Latin America.
In the beginning MAF’s program will only benefit those living in San Francisco.
“We are launching this as a pilot program,” Salas said. “We will rely on requests for more funds to be able to bring this program to other communities.”
The money utilized by MAF comes from private foundations, she said.
According to census data, there are around 3,770 individuals in San Francisco who could be eligible for Deferred Action. Santa Clara County, by comparison, has an estimated 17,300 eligible people.
The eventual beneficiaries of Deferred Action, according to the criteria of USCIS, would be undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. before the age of 16, who are under 30 years old.
They should have resided in the country without interruption for at least five years.
In addition, they must be currently in school, have graduated high school or have a GED, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces.
Furthermore, they cannot have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or have three or more misdemeanors or otherwise pose a threat to national security and public safety.
More information about Deferred Action, visit www.uscis.gov or call 1-800-375-5283
To get in touch with MAF, call 415-738-2559 or visit their office at 1470 Valencia St., San Francisco, close to the 24th Street Bart Station.