Baylor Law School To Help Eligible Undocumented Students Apply F - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

Baylor business major Gracie Chavira walks on campus to a place she never thought she'd go.

"I never had this opportunity, I didn't even think about it. It didn't cross my mind to actually attend because there was no point," she said.

It's the school-wide career fair.

All students are invited, but as illegal immigrants, Gracie and her brothers have no social security numbers or way to legally get a job.

"I have my own business so I was just gonna try to make that work after graduation," said the college senior.

But now people like Gracie have a real shot at joining the workforce legally. It's a new consideration by the Dept. of Homeland Security, announced over the summer, called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

And Baylor Law School is reaching out to help those who are eligible.

"It doesn't make sense from a budget standpoint as well as an enforcement standpoint to pursue and deport them," said Law Professor Laura Hernandez. She helps run the Immigration Clinic, a new addition to the school this year.

The clinic is comprised of a team of future lawyers. They meet with undocumented students who meet certain requirements. They must have been younger than 16 when they came to the U.S., be younger than 31 years old, have no serious criminal background and have lived consistently in the country for the past five years.

If they are approved, students will then receive the lowest possible priority for deportation from the Dept. of Homeland Security. And they can legally work in the country.

Texas has one of the largest undocumented immigrant populations in the U.S. And the immigration clinic already has more than 100 interested clients.

"I, growing up in W,Waco have lots of friends and family members who this affects personally," said law student and clinic member Anali Gatlin.

They're helping people like Gracie make big plans. After graduation, she wants to join a marketing firm.

"I wanna be able to get a job after I graduate, just like everybody else does," she said.

And for the first time, she'll get the opportunity to reach for her own American dream.