The Carrboro Board of Alderman unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday asking the town manager to identify funds and possibly funding partners to support El Centro Hispano in its work to assist Carrboro DACA recipients.
Earlier this month, the administration of President Donald Trump announced plans to terminate DACA, a program implemented by former President Barack Obama that gave 800,000 young undocumented immigrants two-year renewable permits to stay and work in the country legally.
The Department of Homeland Security is no longer accepting initial requests for DACA and DACA renewal requests are only being accepted until October 5 of this year and only from DACA recipients whose benefits expire between September 5, 2017, and March 5, 2018.
According to the resolution passed by the Board of Alderman, the filing fee to request DACA is $495 and cannot be waived.
The resolution goes on to state that “market-rate legal services are unaffordable to many persons, even those above the federal poverty limit” and that “the harshening of federal immigration policy and the coarsening of rhetoric about immigrants by public officials at state and federal levels may result in an increasingly urgent need for legal services and other forms of assistance for immigrant communities.”
The board is asking the town manager to cover costs related to the rescission of DACA, such as staff time required to provide services to beneficiaries, renewal fees for beneficiaries whose benefits will expire and referral to legal services, and to make space available in Town Hall and other town facilities for information sessions on the DACA program and for attorneys to meet with clients to prepare DACA renewal requests.
The resolution also asks the town clerk to publicize the contents of the resolution with relevant community organizations and to share the resolution with the chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners; the mayors of the Town of Chapel Hill and the Town of Hillsborough; the chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education; and the executive director of the North Carolina Metropolitan Mayors Coalition
Approximately one in five residents of Carrboro were born outside the United States, and the resolution states that “it is essential to the public health, safety, and welfare that all residents of Carrboro be safe and secure, regardless of their national origin or immigration status.”
Residents who are affected by the changes to DACA should contact the town manager or El Centro Hispano for assistance.
Related Stories
‹

Chapel Hill Joins Carrboro, Durham in Partnering with El Centro Hispano for DACA Renewal FeesChapel Hill entered into a performance agreement with El Centro Hispano to help pay for the DACA renewals in the town. The Chapel Hill Town Council on Wednesday night authorized the town manager to enter into a performance agreement with El Centro Hispano to assist in the DACA renewal fees for Chapel Hill residents. The […]
![]()
Carrboro, El Centro Hosting DACA Renewal Meeting Thursday NightThe Town of Carrboro, El Centro Hispano and community organizers are holding an information session for DACA recipients tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Carrboro’s Town Hall. During the session, Carrboro representatives and immigration lawyers will work with DACA recipients to identify what documents are needed for renewal, provide forms for renewal and answer any questions. […]
![]()
Chapel Hill, Carrboro Mayors Sign Letter to President Trump Supporting DACAMayors from Chapel Hill and Carrboro are among more than 100 mayors and county officials from across the country encouraging President Donald Trump to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA, which was initiated by President Barack Obama, celebrated its five-year anniversary this week. The program allows for children who have been residing […]
![]()
Carrboro: Tropical Depression Chantal Recovery, Public Works, Filing for Reelection RunCarrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, July 11, discussing town news and events. She talked about the damage assessment in Carrboro this week after several homes were flooded, as well as the town's public works facility. She described the process of getting trash pick up back up and running after most of the garbage truck fleet was ruined. She talked about the resource center at the Drakeford Library Complex that is set up through Saturday for folks affected by the flooding. She also talked about filing to run for reelection as Mayor, and more.

Carrboro Hears Update on Reimagining E. Weaver Street, Redesigning Traffic PatternsAt its last meeting before the summer break, the Carrboro Town Council heard an update on the reimagining of East Weaver Street.

Orange County Opening Recovery Assistance Center for Storm VictimsOrange County will open a Recovery Assistance Center (RAC) to provide essential services and support for residents affected by Tropical Depression Chantal this week. The center, located at the Drakeford Library Complex at 203 South Greensboro Street in downtown Carrboro, will operate from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. from July 10 through July 12. “The […]

Carrboro Police: Juvenile Arrested, Charged in Domestic Violence Stabbing IncidentA juvenile suspect is in custody after a domestic assault which occurred Wednesday afternoon, according to the Carrboro Police Department. Police say officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault involving a stabbing in the Lake Hogan Farms neighborhood – located north of Homestead Road – at 2:17 p.m. Wednesday and found a victim […]

Days After Historic Rain, Chapel Hill and Durham Under Another Flash Flood WarningMany areas of Orange County, Chatham County and the rest of central North Carolina are again under a flash flood warning on Wednesday.

'We Need Help': Orange County Flood Victims Beginning to Pick Up the PiecesOrange County residents whose homes were flooded during Sunday's storm shared their emotions and what help they need in the aftermath.

Carrboro's Public Works Facility and Vehicles Damaged by FloodwatersThe Carrboro Public Works facility, located off Smith Level Road, suffered significant flooding Sunday night and saw a portion of the town's vehicle fleet totaled by the high waters.
›
Great – Carrboro Town employees have not had a pay raise in 8 years because the Town “doesn’t have the money,” yet the Board can compel the Town Manager to miraculously produce money to give to illegal immigrants? This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard Carrboro doing – today.