Friend —

Today is the 8th anniversary of when the first applications for DACA were accepted by the US Government!

In a moment, I’m going to ask you to make a contribution to United We Dream Action today to protect what is left of this critical program. But first I want to share why this is so intensely personal to me and the hundreds of thousands of people like me who are relying on this team to fight for our futures.

I spent the first year of DACA’s existence running information sessions and application clinics for new applicants and their families. I remember watching parents and kids and grandparents coming into these workshops with stacks of papers ready to apply. I was amazed by all the documents and memories that the parents had saved — small insignificant things like science fair or field day certificates, letters, postcards — as if they always expected to be able to use them for this very reason some day.

After getting DACA in 2013, I was able to get a job with a regular paycheck. I was able to get a driver's license and a car. I used to find myself sitting in my driver’s seat, holding on to my steering wheel, unable to fathom the financial stability and freedom that DACA had afforded me.

Now, DACA has been the target of xenophobic and racist attacks from all levels of government for years. The Trump administration has dismantled DACA piece by piece, and now the program as we once knew it is gone.

But we are a resilient community — one that already knows how to fight for our lives because we’ve never stopped before, and we don’t plan on it now. Powered by a movement of grassroots supporters and activists, we have everything we need to topple the systems of oppression that harm and hurt immigrants and undocumented people everywhere.

Consider a donation of any amount to fuel the work we’re doing every day to fight for the protection of all immigrants and equity for undocumented people. Our fights do not start or end with either the Trump administration or the DACA program, and with your help we will be relentless in our pursuit of true justice for our people.

Thanks for anything you can chip in today. If you can’t make a donation, consider forwarding this email to a few of your friends and family who might be able to help. We appreciate all you do to fuel this movement, however you can.

Carolina, United We Dream Action