Dear John,

As the year ends, the weight facing Minnesota’s immigrant and refugee communities, as well as those who stand beside them, has not eased—it has intensified. Over the past year, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) has been responding to the dangerous escalation in rhetoric and policies that are deeply harmful to immigrants and refugees in our community. Every day, our clients have seen promises of aggressive deportations, funding cuts to essential programs, and executive orders that strip due process protections for them.   

As many families gather freely to celebrate the holidays together, our immigrant and refugee families across Minnesota face a very different reality; they’re separated from their loved ones or are forced to stay home in fear of deportations. Moments that should be filled with warmth and connection are overshadowed by the uncertainty if the people they love will still be here in the new year. These families and individuals need us now more than ever. 

And ILCM continues to show up. 

Our Community Defense team continues to show up during crucial moments: in immigration courts, in detention centers, and in moments of crisis. They offer both legal defense and reassurance that no one must face this system alone.  

Last month, we launched our Stand with Immigrants campaign, rallying supporters like you to ensure that those most vulnerable in our communities can access critical legal services and know their rights during this holiday season. With your continued support, we can:

• Strengthen critical naturalization legal services and provide free expert legal representation to meet rising demand. ILCM is dedicated to standing with clients through every step of the legal process.
  
  
• Fortify our education and outreach efforts through “Know Your Rights” workshops that empower our immigrant and refugee communities to understand and assert their rights.  
  
  
• Advocate and educate for just and humane policies that help immigrants and refugees have happy, safe, and healthier lives.
  
  
• Reunite families who were separated by the immigration system and can finally find safety and stability together.  

While everything around us may look bleak, the holiday season serves as a reminder of reunion and renewed hope—especially when supporters like you stand with ILCM.  

As our Policy Director, Julia Decker, recently shared:  

“At this moment, we have no way to lighten the load on our shoulders, so all we can ask for is some way to make our shoulders stronger. We cannot do this without you.”

For this year's end, you can be that strength.

Help us reach our campaign goal of raising $200,000 by December 31st to ensure that ILCM can continue providing life-changing legal support and advocacy into the new year. Together, we can share that weight and continue to meet the fear and uncertainty of our system with compassion and courage. 

Before the year ends, will you make a gift to help strengthen our shoulders and theirs for the challenges and rising need ahead? 

To our immigrant and refugee community: you do not have to face this system alone. And to you, our supporters: thank you for standing with ILCM, now and always.