Friend,

This year, when immigrant families faced unprecedented attacks, you didn't just stand by. You fought back — and together, we made a real difference.

With supporters like you, we collectively took more than 81,000 actions this year. From urging governors to defend sanctuary cities to demanding members of Congress hold ICE accountable to filing lawsuits to challenge unjust laws, NILC is pulling all levers of change to defend immigrants' rights — and you've been with us every step of the way.

These difficult times are intended to make us feel powerless. That’s why it’s more important than ever that our elected officials hear from us. As loud as the White House may be, we need to be louder with our demand that our elected representatives use the full power of their offices to protect our communities and democracy.

Just look at what happened to Jackie Merlos. In June, Jackie and her family were detained by CBP agents at the U.S.-Canada border based on false accusations. Agents disappeared her and her four young U.S. citizen children, locking them up in a facility never meant for families.

Even after finally releasing the children, ICE tried to keep Jackie locked up, prolonging the family’s separation for months. We sprung to action, and over 15,000 of you contacted congressional representatives in Washington and Oregon, who in turn called ICE, sent oversight letters, and spoke out about Jackie’s case.

And in October, Jackie walked free.

This is the power of grassroots mobilization. This is what's possible when we join forces.

But our fight is far from over. There are thousands more families facing this same nightmare as attacks on immigrant communities intensify.

We know what works: showing up, speaking out, and never backing down. And because of you and your continued support, we know we’ll have the resources we need to keep fighting.

Thank you, friend — for every email sent, every signature added, and every action taken.

You make this work possible.

Heidi Altman
Vice President, Policy
National Immigration Law Center