Life while undocumented means living under the constant fear of retaliation by your employer, detention by ICE and CBP, and deportation to a country you may not remember or have never stepped foot in before.
Jazmin is fighting for a pathway to citizenship so that she can have access to the same opportunities as her peers — she wants to start a business, buy a home, and even vote for her representatives — but right now, she can’t.
Hi there, I’m Jazmin.
I’m a junior at Colorado State University. Like all of my peers, I’m interested in summer jobs, internships, and study abroad programs in the field I’m studying.
But there’s one difference between us: I can’t apply to any of them — all because of my status.
I came to the US with my family when I was 4 years old. I’m undocumented, which means I can’t legally work here or re-enter the country if I travel abroad.
I’m eligible for DACA — but because of Judge Hanen’s decision to close DACA to new applicants, I’m shut out of the program. That means no work permit or protection from deportation.
And just recently, Judge Hanen doubled down on his decision against new DACA applications, leaving millions of immigrant youth like me in limbo without protections.
That’s why UWDA is leading the charge to secure permanent protections from Congress and the White House. Will you chip in to help us scale up our advocacy work and secure a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth and all undocumented people?
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As a part of a mixed-status family, I see the differences that come with immigration status in my own home.
My 15-year-old younger brother was born here and is a U.S. citizen. He’ll be able to get a part-time job to earn spending money and travel to foreign countries that I could only dream of. He’ll be able to get an internship to gain practical experience in his field.
He also won’t have to worry about breaking minor laws. My worst fear is landing in detention for something as simple as jaywalking. I can’t imagine what that would do to my parents.
I also can’t really imagine a future in which I graduate with this amazing degree and am unable to do the work I’ve been trained to do. Someday, I even want to start my own business.
But until we win permanent protections, my life and the lives of millions more will be put on pause — at the mercy of court case after court case.
I’m fighting for permanent protections so that I can start pursuing my dreams of starting a business, buying a home, and even voting for the people who represent me.
Congress has an opportunity to deliver, and with the future of DACA up in the air, it’s urgent that they act now.
If you’re able, add a donation to help UWDA fight for permanent protections before it’s too late.
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
Thank you for letting me share my story,
Jazmin, United We Dream Action
