According to Center for American Progress, ending Deferred  Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) would remove abut 685,000 workers from the economy nationwide.

That would impact the communities where they live, including the Centre region.

Shoba Sivaprisad Wadhia, Director for Penn State Law’s Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, said a day after the announcement to revoke DACA, she’s already had about 100 people reach out with questions or concerns.

The clinic works with Law students who take on cases directly linked to immigration and civil rights.

For Sung Che Jo personal experience influenced his career path.

“Because I’m an immigrant myself. I’ve been an immigrant since I was 8 years old,” Jo said.

He’s an immigrant of Peru after moving from Korea, and now he’s a student working at the clinic, which offers guidance and legal support for immigrants who may not be aware of their constitutional rights.

“I see that role as both a privilege and a responsibility,” Wadhia said.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security nearly 800,000 people have DACA nationwide and 6,000 are in Pennsylvania.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, the total DACA-eligible population in PA is 21,000.

Wadhia is working with students to layout all of the information, breaking down what DACA recipients should do moving forward.

The clinic is also providing community outreach.

“I knew majority of the people affected were Spanish speakers or Hispanics so I try and translate documents as much as possible,” Jo said.

The clinic plans to work with DACA recipients to see if they may qualify for other relief, but also be prepared to roll with the punches.

“It’s been much more around lawyering in the fire and I suppose that’s a good learning opportunity for students too because I don’t know what I’m gong to wake up to tomorrow in the immigration space,” Wadhia said.

Wadhia said students attending Penn State are also impacted by DACA.

Following the announcement, Eric Barron, President of Penn State released a statement saying: 

“We are deeply concerned for the welfare of the students impacted….As this national conversation goes on, we will continue to stand for inclusion and against discrimination.”