John,

Last month, a federal court opened up first-time DACA applications across the country for the first time in years. DACA recipients, known as Dreamers, were brought to the U.S. as children. For many, this country is the only home they’ve ever known.

The DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protects these undocumented youth from deportation and allows them to get government IDs so they can drive, go to school, and hold jobs.

The new court ruling—which also affirmed current DACA recipients’ ability to renew their protections—is a hard-fought victory. However, these applications must now get processed through Trump’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services department, which has not yet confirmed if it will follow the court’s ruling.

We can’t trust Trump’s administration to follow the law, and they could move to end DACA at any time. So the immigrant youth-led group United We Dream is urging people who are currently protected to renew their DACA status as soon as possible—while they still can.

The cost for renewals went up by $60 this year, from $495 to $555, creating an even bigger financial barrier for many immigrants. With fees increasing, our support is more important than ever.

Will you rush a contribution to United We Dream’s DACA Renewal Fund to help cover the $555 fee for DACA recipients who can’t afford to renew their critical protections?

United We Dream successfully pushed the Obama administration to enact DACA. The group has continued to push for expanded protections and fight back against deportation raids and racist laws, winning sanctuary resolutions and state policies that limit cooperation with ICE.

For years, the DACA program’s status was in limbo due to court decisions. Hundreds of thousands of current DACA recipients’ lives were in upheaval, and over 90,000 first-time applications have been waiting to be processed.

The latest court decision affirms that DACA recipients in all 50 states have protection from deportation, but the ruling could put work authorization at risk for DACA recipients in Texas, leaving that up to a Texas judge.

I’m a proud cosponsor of the newly reintroduced American Dream and Promise Act, which would give DACA recipients (also known as Dreamers), a pathway to citizenship. This could protect more than 5 million of our neighbors who have built their lives here, and keep millions of families together.

I will never stop fighting for permanent protections for immigrants, who make our communities stronger. In Congress, I will keep demanding human dignity and safety for all human beings, and pushing for everyone’s rights. We need to use our collective voices to speak up for our rights, our shared humanity, and dignity for all people. Dehumanization harms us all.

Right now, you as an individual can fight back against Trump’s mass deportations and protect some families from being torn apart—by chipping in to help DACA recipients renew their protections to stay in the country and stay with their families.

Please rush a donation to United We Dream’s DACA Renewal Fund today. 100% of your contribution will go to covering the cost of renewal fees—$555 per person—so immigrants brought to the U.S. as children can stay here with their families and in their communities.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately, with 100% going directly to DACA Application Fund

Thank you. I will keep fighting for and alongside you.

-Rashida

P.S. If you’re eligible for DACA and considering applying for the first time, United We Dream recommends speaking to a trusted attorney or community organization before submitting your application.