Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) resources
APSCUF’s September 2017 legislative assembly approved two statements about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, one of which called for APSCUF to compile and post a list of local and statewide resources available to students (and staff and faculty) on our campuses whose immigration status is at risk in the wake of the recision of the DACA program.
Here is the list so far. We invite members to contribute more via this link. If you have questions, email Tabetha Bernstein-Danis, chair of the state social-justice committee at or Seth Kahn, chair of the state mobilization committee, at .
DACA resources
State System of Higher Education Immigration Counsel: Goldblum & Pollins, (215) 885-3600
[On September 6, 2017, the Board of Governors issued a special message inviting students who need advice a no-cost confidential consultation.]
National/Other Resources
National Education Association (NEA) immigration issue explainer
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities resources for DACA/DREAMers
Statewide Resources
ACLU of PA: Lots of information on the website regarding rights, advice on how to handle interactions with police and government agencies.
Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of PA (for information specifically on how to access services, go HERE)
National Immigration Legal Services Directory (PA Organizations): Contact information for 21 agencies across the state that offer various forms of legal and other resources.
Southeastern PA/Delaware/Southern NJ Resources
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (see links under Immigration about ¾ of the way down the page) Note: CLS only works with clients whose income is less than 125% of the Federal Poverty Level.
CWS Lancaster (Church World Services): Services include help with resettlement, refugee employment, and immigration legal services. Phone: 717.381.2890; Fax: 717.381.2896;
Indivisible Chester County has created a page Defending DACA and Dreamers. The page includes local, regional, and national-level resources and contact information for both law firms and non-profits/NGOs.
Irish Immigration Center of Philadelphia: Provide free legal immigration clinic twice a month. The clinic is hosted on the first and third Wednesday of the month from 3:30 p.m. by appointment only. Help people apply for their U.S. Citizenship, renew their Green Cards, and provide free consultations on other Immigration questions and issues they may have. 610-789-6355
La Comunidad Hispana (Kennett Square): Offers a variety of services, including legal clinic, advocacy, tutoring/literacy instruction, dental care.
Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, Inc. (SEAMAAC): SEAMAAC provides linguistically and culturally appropriate services for refugee communities in metropolitan Philadelphia. Services include English classes, driver’s education, citizenship-test preparation, health literacy classes, after-school programs for youth, truancy prevention, maternal/infant health-care services, breast-cancer support, senior lunches, nutritional services, housing assistance, employment assistance, help obtaining infant and child car seats as well as clothes and furniture. Phone: 215-467-0690; Fax: 215-467-5301
South-Central PA Resources
Mid Penn Legal Services 401 East Louther Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Local office telephone: (717) 243-9400 or 800-822-5288
Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services 939 East Park Drive Suite 2 Harrisburg, PA 17111 http://www.cchbg.org/get-help/immigration-refugee-services
Franklin County Legal Services 14 North Main Street Suite 401 Chambersburg, PA 17201 Local office telephone: (717) 262-2326
CitizenPath https://citizenpath.com/daca-resource-center/
Central Pennsylvania
Franklin County Legal Services
Areas of legal assistance: | Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Consular Processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Employment authorization, Family-based petitions, NACARA, Naturalization/Citizenship, Removal hearings, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T visas, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions |
Types of legal assistance: | Filings with USCIS, Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court |
Location: | 14 North Main Street, Suite 401, Chambersburg, PA 17201 |
Contact: | (717) 262-2326,http://www.fcls.net |
Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
Penn State Law, PSU
University Park