On April 12, free legal screening for DACA, DAPA eligibility

At a press briefing at the Center for Community and Ethnic Media, from left, MOIA Commissioner Nisha Agarwal, Assistant Commissioner Kavita Pawria-Sanchez, Raluca Oncioiu from Catholic Charities Community Services, and Maryann Tharappel from New York Legal Assistance Group. The FilAm Photos

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) is urging undocumented New York residents to attend a legal screening on April 12 to determine if they are eligible for the Obama executive actions on immigration relief.

The screening event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Temple Emanu-El at 1 East 65th Street. Pending immigration cases will be evaluated by lawyers, and the residents will receive advice on how to proceed with their applications if they are found to be qualified.

In November, President Obama halted deportation proceedings for undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and green card holders under the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). He also called for an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for youth who came to the United States as children.

However a Texas judge has issued an injunction on the executive actions, putting a hold on all applications across the country.

Grace Shim from MinKwon Center for Community Action

The legal screening, the first in a series, is a “safe and trusted place” to obtain information, according to MOIA. Commissioner Nisha Agarwal said in a briefing with members of the ethnic media that MOIA is aware of how some ‘notarios’ and “fraudulent providers only take your money and screw up your case.”

Applicants will be screened on what their legal options may be and will be connected with legal services, said MOIA Assistant Commissioner Kavita Pawria-Sanchez.

She said about 200K New Yorkers are seen to potentially benefit from the executive actions.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio would like the residents to be ready with their application for when the law is eventually approved, she added.

“This is a critical moment for them who have been waiting for years for immigration relief to come,” said Pawria-Sanchez.

Grace Shim, executive director of MinKwon Center for Community Action serving Korean immigrants, urged the Asian community to come to the screening.

She said certain Asian communities, such as the Chinese, Indians, and Koreans, have a “very, very low turnout” in previous legal clinics for the same purpose.

“Do not let the language barrier stop you from applying,” she said. At the same time, she stressed the need to be hopeful and to move away from the “fear that the executive actions will not come to fruition.”

Maryann Tharappel from New York Legal Assistance Group, said the screening will also help clarify some misconceptions about immigration. One of the most common is the so-called ‘10-year ban’ where an undocumented immigrant believes he cannot be deported if he has remained in the U.S. for at least 10 years.

“There is so much confusion,” said Raluca Oncioiu from Catholic Charities Community Services. “It is important to get the right information.”

MOIA is asking potential applicants to register to make sure they have a spot in the screening event. The hotline to call is 212-419-3700. The screening is free and confidential.