Some Northeast Iowa DACA recipients have only until Thursday to apply for a two-year extension

Some Northeast Iowa residents who have a visa under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program face a deadline of Thursday of this week to apply to renew their DACA status for up to two years.

The program itself is ending, but those individuals whose DACA status expires from now until March 5th of next year can apply for a renewal—if their renewal application and fee are received by October 5th.  DACA recipients whose permit has already expired are not eligible to renew.

The deadline for such applications has been moved up, but the application fee--$495—has remained the same.  That means DACA recipients in NE Iowa have had to come up with the money much sooner than they first anticipated.

Fundraising efforts have been held in NE Iowa to help pay for the application fees.  Checks have already been written to some DACA recipients.

The Department of Justice has said the renewal deadline for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will not be extended beyond Thursday and any applications received after Thursday will be ignored.