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A Newsletter on Public Policy and Resources
Solidarity, Community, and Action
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| Welcome!
About twice a month the Undocumented Student Program will send you a newsletter. This newsletter's focus is on public policy and advocacy. Through the content of this newsletter, you will have an opportunity to learn about the policies changing at the local, state and national levels that affect the immigrant community. We will also share ways to advocate alongside the undocumented and larger immigrant community both on campus and within the DMV area. We hope you enjoy the information and resources and that you can feel the resilience found within the immigrant community. Please take a look at and share the following resources and encourage others to sign up for our newsletter.
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Congratulations Virginia Undocumented Students!
Congratulations to the undocumented students and advocates in VA who have tirelessly worked for their right to education. Because of their efforts over many years, undocumented students in the State of Virginia are now able to pay in-state tuition if they meet the eligibility requirements which includes the following:
- Must have attended a VA high school for two years
- Must have graduated by July 01, 2008, from a public or private VA high school, home school, or an approved high school equivalency examination
- Must provide two years of state income taxes
- Must be registered at an institution of higher education
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Free Them All campaign by Detention Watch Network and Safe and Together Campaign.
- The Free Them All campaign demands the release of all people in detention centers across the country who are currently under the custody of Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) during COVID-19. To learn more and to engage in this campaign check out this website and the images below.
- The Safe and Together campaign uplifts that #COVID-19 makes no distinction between if you are a U.S. Citizen or a refugee seeking asylum at the U.S. border to save your life. Shutting our doors in the face of asylum seekers who need help is wrong. There is no adequate medical care and no luxury to social distance. Families should be #SafeandTogether #RestoreAsylumNow. To engage check out the following toolkit and click on the images below.
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You will find the information in this newsletter in the following order:
- Taxes Filing Deadline Extended
- Filing Taxes Using ITIN #
- Maryland Dream Act Expansion
- Liberian DED
- DACA Renewals and Announcements
- Know Your Rights
- Immigration Preparedness Toolkit
- Immigration Legal Aid
- COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Immigrants
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Taxes Filing Deadline Extended - July 15, 2020
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Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), federal income tax returns (normally due on April 15, 2020) are now automatically postponed to July 15, 2020. For the latest information, visit Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers and Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments for Individuals and Families.
Tax Balance Due
If you are expecting to have a federal tax balance due and cannot pay it in full by the new July 15th due date, pay as much as you can, as interest, penalties, and additions to tax will begin to accrue on July 16, 2020.
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Filing Taxes With An ITIN# If You Don't Have A SSN#
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Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the IRS to taxpayers and their dependents who are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number. In addition to being required to pay taxes, immigrants benefit from filing income tax returns.
If you want to file a tax return but cannot obtain a valid SSN (for example if you are undocumented), you must complete IRS Form W-7, “Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.”
Applicants who apply for an ITIN by mail directly with the IRS must submit either the original of each supporting document or a certified copy of each supporting document.
How do I file taxes with an ITIN?
To file a tax return, you must enter your ITIN in the space for the SSN on the tax form, complete the rest of the return, and submit the tax return (along with any additional forms) to the IRS.
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ITIN NOTE: Individuals who were issued an ITIN prior to January 1, 2013, are required to renew on a staggered schedule between 2017 and 2020. An ITIN issued after December 31, 2012, will remain valid unless the person to whom it was issued does not file a tax return—or is not included as a dependent on the return of another taxpayer—for three consecutive years.
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Maryland Dream Act Expansion and Certified Taxes
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Current UMD Students and the Maryland Dream Act
Current University of Maryland students who are looking to submit their documents to maintain in-state tuition at the University of Maryland through the Maryland Dream Act and who have not filed their taxes due to unforeseen circumstances, or COVID-19; and therefore will not be able to meet the Universities upcoming April 30th deadline please contact Brian Leak or Henry Gittens in the office of the Registrars ASAP and let them know your circumstances.
- Brian Leak- bleak@umd.edu
- Henry Gittens - hgittens@umd.edu
Questions about the expansion of the Maryland Dream Act
If you are a current, incoming or prospective student and have questions about the expansion of the Maryland Dream Act and need help understanding the new application and or guidelines required to meet in-state tuition requirements at the University of Maryland, please also reach out to Brian Leak and or Henry Gittens. Information to contact them is above.
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What is Deferred Enforced Departure?
Deferred Enforced Departure is a form of relief from removal. Liberian Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), formerly Extended Voluntary Departure, allows certain individuals from designated countries and regions facing political or civic conflict or natural disaster to stay in the United States.
DED & Permanent Residence
Liberian DED holders can apply for permanent resident status through this law so they will no longer need to depend on extensions of DED to be able to stay in the U.S.
An applicant must apply through USCIS no later than December 20, 2020
How Does DED, differ from TPS and Deferred Action
Take a look at the image below for a breakdown of the differences.
For information and details provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services click here.
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Renew your DACA ASAP if it expires during 2020.
Regardless of USCIS offices being closed during COVID-19, USCIS will still be processing DACA applications by using previous renewal application biometrics. If you need help in regards to information or need help paying for your renewal - $495, please click on the images below.
If you have the capacity to, please consider donating to the PLUMAS Dream fund to help support students who need to renew. Donate at ter.ps/plumasdf.
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Free Immigration Preparedness Toolkit
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NOW LIVE! Free Immigration Preparedness Toolkit!
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center's Immigration Preparedness Toolkit is a resource-packed informational packet designed to help immigrants with no legal status or people in mixed- immigration-status families begin to understand the immigration legal landscape and plan for their own journey through an ever-changing, complex system in the United States. This free toolkit offers in-depth, yet easily accessible information that outlines the basics about a variety of topics including rights during ICE confrontations, the different types of immigration options available, ideas for building a consultation roadmap, and tips on covering bases while waiting for relief and more. They also incorporate links to other helpful reference documents, fact sheets, and tools readers can use to construct their own personalized plan.
NOTE: The Spanish version of this toolkit is being developed.
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Regardless of your immigration status, everyone has constitutional rights!
In this current political climate, it is important that as a community we rise together. One way of doing that is by staying engaged and protecting yourself, your peers, family, and community by knowing your rights!
Note: The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) does not have a relationship with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). If you see any ICE officials on/near campus, please contact UMPD at 301-405-3555.
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UMD Spring 2020 Immigration Attorney Appointment Schedule
Appointments are available for graduate and undergraduate students virtually
between 10 AM - 1:45 PM on the following dates:
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Make your free appointment as soon as you can! For more information check out the flyer below and the Graduate Student Legal Aid Office website.
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COVID-19 Undocumented/Immigrant Friendly Resources
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COVID-19 Relief Funds Open to Undocumented Immigrants
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BE COUNTED - SUBMIT YOUR CENSUS
You can submit your census by computer, phone, and mail. For more information about the Census through the lens of an immigrant go to wecountcensus.com.
Does the 2020 Census ask about citizenship status?
NO. The 2020 Census does not ask whether you or anyone in your home is a U.S. citizen. Additionally, federal law prohibits the Bureau from releasing information identifying individuals to the public and other federal agencies, including ICE.
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Over the last month, there has been a lot of things shifting as they relate to the lived experiences of our undocumented immigrant community. We recommend signing up for the following organization's newsletters to get information about webinars available to you for free to continue to learn about the issues affecting undocumented and immigrant students and the larger community.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center- https://www.ilrc.org/
- Immigrants Rising- https://immigrantsrising.org/
- UndocuBlack Network- https://undocublack.org/
- NAKASEC- https://nakasec.org/
- Informed Immigrant- https://www.informedimmigrant.com
- Presidents Alliance on Immigration and Higher Education- https://www.presidentsimmigrationalliance.org/
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