School records could help determine whether an estimated 2 million undocumented immigrants will get to live and work in the U.S. legally.
The San Diego Unified School District opened an office in Old Town Tuesday to handle an influx of requests.
An estimated 20,000 undocumented immigrants are eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) in San Diego County.
In California the program would allow undocumented immigrants to live and work in the U.S. legally for two years. It would also allow them to get a driver's license.
San Diego Unified decided to open their Harold J. Ballard Parent Center in Old Town after being inundated with requests.
Only around 30 people were able to get transcripts Tuesday. School officials say they are having to account for more than 100,000 students returning to school Tuesday.
Twenty-year-old Fernando Licea, a former Spring Valley Monte Vista student, and his younger sister got to the Ballard Center early Tuesday morning. They had to wait a few hours but were able to get their transcripts.
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They say have high hopes for their applications and look forward to no longer living in fear of deportation.
“You cannot drive knowing that you're going to get pulled over and take your car away, which has happened to me a lot of times, because you have no license," said Licea who now works as a cook in the South Bay,
His sister Maria adds, “We're going to be able to get a permit and everything that they're giving us, [then] graduate and then get to work and then go to college,” said the 17 year old student.
The Deferred Action office will remain open until November 7 or until the requests dissipate.
Applicants will need to bring their original birth certificate and photo identification in order to make a request.
Click here to read the application or get more information on the DACA.
