Friend,

It's been an intense summer for immigration advocates and allies. It seems like every day, Donald Trump and Stephen Miller are announcing new policy changes meant to kick immigrants out of the U.S. and keep future immigrants from coming in. Here's a recap of what's been happening in immigration lately:

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Last week, the Trump Administration finalized a new regulation changing the Flores agreement, which protects children and families seeking asylum at our ports of entry. The changes would allow the Administration to indefinitely detain children and families under weaker standards of care and less oversight. Read more here: [link removed]

The Trump Administration has also announced that it wants to transfer $271 million from various Department of Homeland Security priorities, in order to fund more detention centers. This money would be taken from the Coast Guard, TSA, cyber security programs, and FEMA -- at a time when hurricane season is approaching and another major storm is bearing down on Puerto Rico. Read more here: [link removed]

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The Trump Administration also wants to make changes to the agricultural guest worker program known as H-2A. H-2A is a guest worker program that allows immigrant workers to temporarily enter the U.S. to perform seasonal agricultural jobs. However, Trump's proposed changes would depress pay and reduce existing protections for all farm workers. Learn more about the changes here: [link removed]. And, submit a public comment to stop these changes from being implemented here: [link removed].

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It's no surprise at this point that Trump is willing to do everything in his power to prevent immigrants from being able to come to this country and earn legal status and citizenship. One of his latest tactics would make it harder for immigrants to obtain a green card if they have ever used food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid, or other government programs.

This policy change would favor wealthier, younger, healthier, and more highly-skilled immigrants. Other immigrants would have to choose between the things their families need and being able to keep their families together. No one should have to make that decision. Here's what you should know about the new "public charge" rule: [link removed].

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Almost 700 immigrant workers were arrested when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a massive workforce raid earlier this month in Mississippi.

Some children were left stranded at school, while others came back to an empty house with no news of where their parents were. Strangers had to help take these children to safe locations. While many of these parents have been released for now, they face possible deportation and permanent separation from their families. If you can, please donate here to help these families: [link removed].

Your money goes to organizations in Mississippi that are helping to take care of affected families and making sure that these workers receive a fair trial.

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The Trump Administration has also announced the end of non-military deferred action requests. Deferred action refers to a type of status sometimes granted to immigrants who are facing deportation, or who may become vulnerable to deportation. Trump wants to get rid of this type of status, which among other things, would mean the deportation of sick children who are in the U.S. receiving life-saving medical care. Advocates have called this change "cruel and inhumane."

One seven-year-old boy, for example, was visiting the U.S. in 2016 when he had a seizure, which led to a collapsed lung and a colon infection. If he is deported, his mom fears he'll die in their native Guyana. Read more about his story, and others', here: [link removed].

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While the Trump Administration's attacks on immigrants have been relentless, there is hope. Almost every time Trump announces a new policy change, advocates, organizations, cities, and states have been suing to block him from implementing his anti-immigrant vision.

And, polls show that Trump's approach to immigrants is backfiring. A new poll recently revealed that white Americans are 19% more supportive of a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants now than they were just 4 years ago.

Sixty percent of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling immigration, compared to just 38% who approve. Trump is now underwater on the main issue that he ran on: [link removed].

So, please continue to speak up and let others know that what the president is doing is simply wrong. His tactics of hate and intolerance are not working, and we need to keep standing up to him until we can vote (or help vote) him out of office!

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more information and ways you can get involved. In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Facebook ([link removed]), Twitter ([link removed]), and Instagram ([link removed]). You can also contribute to America's Voice here: [link removed].

In solidarity,
Juana






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