Hi John,
It’s the month to make a difference!
With the uncertainties brought on by recent natural disasters, the DACA hearing at the 5th Circuit on October 10, and the presidential elections happening next week, it’s more important now than ever to get activated and take action in support of our communities.
If you’ve been feeling hopeless or unsure where to start, you are not alone! There are many ways you can stay involved and uplift the people in your community, regardless of ability or capacity:
- Check out our resources to learn how you can care for your mental health and the well-being of those around you, including free 1:1 mental health services through our Mental Health Connector.
- Participate in actions however way you can:
- Use social media to activate and empower your network to stay updated with recent events and join community actions.
- Engage your officials and representatives to use their power to create positive change for your local, state, and national communities.
- Contribute to mutual aid funds and fundraisers for directly affected individuals and communities, such as those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
- Participate in campaigns, mobilizations, and mass actions happening in your area.
- Attend in-person and/or virtual community calls, wellness circles, and gatherings to process how major events, such as the elections and lawsuits against Keeping Families Together (KFT), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and DACA, could and have impacted you.
If you are an ally, you can make a larger positive impact on the undocumented community by:
- Exercising your right to vote in the national, state, and local elections, including propositions and ballot measures.
- Contributing to mutual aid funds and fundraisers for directly affected individuals and communities.
- Showing up and participating in actions that push for a better future.
- Read more about 10 Ways to Support Undocumented Students.
The current state of the world and our country calls for our humanity, resiliency, and unity. No matter how the winds may blow, we stand firm in our resolve to hold, empower, and care for each other.
With you always,
Your community at Immigrants Rising
|
|
Legislative Recap
This year, advocacy at the legislative level in California was integral to our work. We supported AB 2543 (Arambula), AB 2548 (Berman), AB 2165 (Reyes), AB 2586 (Alvarez), and AB 2903 (Santiago and Cervantes) — all geared towards increasing access to higher education and income-generating opportunities for undocumented immigrants in California. Read more about our advocacy work here.
UCLA alumnus, Jeffry Umaña Muñoz, and lecturer, Iliana Perez, Ph.D., have also filed a lawsuit against the University of California earlier this month after Gov. Newsom vetoed AB 2486, also known as the Opportunity for All Act. Read more about this lawsuit here.
|
|
DACA Updates
On October 10, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments concerning the future of DACA. No decisions have been announced yet. In the meantime, the DACA program resumes as it has been prior to the oral arguments (DACA renewals and Advance Parole remain available to current DACA recipients).
At this moment, as we await decisions on DACA and the election, the following resources may be helpful:
|
|
Keeping Families Together (KFT) Hearing
Originally scheduled to be heard following the DACA hearing on October 10, the 5th Circuit Court abruptly canceled the hearing on October 4. Shortly after this announcement, the district court in Texas issued another administrative stay until November 8, preventing USCIS from implementing the KFT process.
“The district court’s unlawful stay has been extended to November 8 – at which point the process will have been blocked for a total of 74 days. District courts cannot block federal programs and processes like KFT for more than 28 days without providing requisite legal analysis. The judge has also scheduled a bench trial on Election Day, November 5.” — Read Justice Action Center’s full statement on October 24.
|
|
Affordable Care Act for DACA Recipients
As of November 1, DACA recipients are newly eligible for Affordable Care Act coverage! ACA coverage is comprehensive, affordable, and covers essential medical benefits, such as free preventative care, mental health care, and hospital care. Trained health enrollment assistants can help you select a plan that fits your needs. Learn more about enrolling here.
|
|
It’s College Application Season!
Postsecondary education may help you discover or pursue your passion and career goals, and financial support may be available to you.
In California, state policies such as AB 540 are set in place and evolving to ensure that in-state tuition, state-based financial aid, institutional grants, and other opportunities are made available to undocumented students. Review our AB 540 Quick Guide to check your eligibility. If you are eligible — congrats! Your next step is to review how you should submit your AB 540 Affidavit, which your college or university uses to confirm your AB 540 eligibility.
If you are based outside California, visit the Higher Ed Immigration Portal to check if undocumented students in your state can access in-state tuition and/or state-based financial aid.
Rest assured that educational institutions are required by federal law, FERPA, to take measures to protect student data. States and institutions may have additional policies furthering protection of personally identifiable information.
For undocumented students applying to University of California (UC) campuses, read our updated application guide.
|
|
Pre-Law 101 Webinar on November 7
Join us for the Pre-Law 101 Webinar on Thursday, November 7 at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET, where you can learn how you, as an undocumented individual, can pursue a career in law. Facilitated by our Career Pathways Manager, Jesús Flores, you will hear from current undocumented law students, learn more about our Pre-Law Bootcamp, and have the opportunity to meet other undocumented individuals on the same journey as you!
|
|
Join our Higher Education Team!
We’re growing our team! Immigrants Rising is searching for our next Higher Education Manager to strengthen our efforts to elevate and increase institutional and systemic support for undocumented students in California. The position will be working remotely from the state of California.
Apply here. Applications will be accepted until November 9, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
