Team — I remember exactly where I was when DACA was first announced over 11 years ago: I was walking through a museum with my mom and sister in Washington, DC when we got the news about President Obama’s announcement.
We didn't know much about the DACA program yet, but as we hugged and celebrated, we could all feel that our lives were about to change.
Getting DACA meant that I was able to graduate without the threat of deportation looming over my head and start my career. My sister, who was in high school, was able to apply to college to study hospitality and then start her dream job at Disney.
Getting DACA meant that when my husband and I decided to have a baby, I had access to quality healthcare for prenatal and postnatal care. It meant I had 12 weeks of paid maternity leave from my employer. It meant I had access to a therapist to support me through postpartum anxiety, and it meant I could afford childcare when I returned to work.
All of this should be the norm for every person living in this country. But for millions of undocumented people, it's not.
Friend, United We Dream Action is collecting resources to support our work fighting for the dignity and protection of ALL undocumented people, not just DACA recipients. Will you make a contribution today to support that important work?
Please use the links in this email to start a monthly donation through ActBlue.
I never took DACA for granted. Since I first heard about DACA, I learned just how hard immigrant youth advocates and allies organized to win the largest immigration protection in over 40 years.
I know how hard we've worked to keep the program in place despite constant Republican attacks — like when we defended DACA at the Supreme Court in 2020 despite endless attacks from the Trump administration.
But the reality is we aren't fighting to protect a program, we are fighting to protect people.
The hard truth is that DACA has hundreds of thousands living in limbo. When my son was born, my immigration status meant we could’ve been separated in the future.
The possibility of being separated from your parents is a reality that over 300,000 US-born children live with. That’s why we need permanent protections now.
DACA is temporary, but we are here to stay. That’s why today I’m asking you to make a donation to United We Dream Action to help us secure permanent protections for millions of undocumented people living in this country.
Please use the links in this email to start a monthly donation through ActBlue.
When my son is old enough to understand the whole story, I'm hopeful that I'll be telling him how we won citizenship legislation for millions. I'll tell him that it was people like his mom, young people at United We Dream Action, and millions of immigrant organizers who were undocumented and unafraid of demanding elected officials to protect people from the terror of detention and deportation.
Thank you for standing with us,
Bruna, United We Dream Action
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