Our latest on Dreamers’ day in court, protecting New York bail reform, and more.

November 12. That’s the day the Supreme Court has chosen to hear arguments on the Trump Administration’s unlawful ending of the DACA program. We’re working hard to make sure DACA recipients have everything they need to renew while they still can, and we’re showing the Supreme Court that the American people support DACA and Dreamers.

Meanwhile, we’re working to protect important progress on criminal justice reform, raising awareness on recent pre-trial reforms in New York, and celebrating the commutations of more than 450 people in Oklahoma.

[link removed]
RENEW
Home is Here: Final Push for DACA Recipients Before November 12 Hearing

RENEW YOUR DACA. RENEW YOUR DACA. RENEW YOUR DACA.
Oh, and also: tell anyone you know who currently has DACA or has had DACA in the past to consider renewing! For many immigrants — including most DACA recipients — America is the only home they’ve ever known. The average DACA recipient came to this country at the age of six and has been here for 22 years. The DACA program allows them to live, work, and support their families. If the Supreme Court allows the Trump Administration to terminate DACA, nearly 700,000 lives could be thrown into chaos. The Supreme Court will hear DACA-related arguments on November 12, with a decision anticipated between January and June of 2020. Meanwhile, every eligible person should consult with a trusted immigration practitioner and renew ASAP.

RENEW TODAY.
[link removed]

[link removed]
MUST SEE
Oklahoma: Hundreds Released After SQ 780 Made Retroactive

Great news out of Oklahoma. On Friday, November 1, the Pardon and Parole Board recommended commutation for hundreds of Oklahomans serving time for drug possession and low-level property offenses. Governor Stitt signed these commutations, and on November 4, 462 brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers were reunited with their families just in time for the holidays. We’re grateful to Governor Stitt, the Oklahoma legislature, and Pardon and Parole Board, as well as the broad coalition of advocates, service providers, and families for working to make SQ 780 — which reclassifies drug possession and low-level theft from felonies to misdemeanors — retroactive.

Take a look at these photos from earlier this week!
[link removed]

[link removed]
FRENCH'S STORY
Meet Our First I Stand With Immigrants Ambassador, French Montana

The Bronx’s own French Montana was just named as the first ever ambassador for the I Stand With Immigrants Initiative! At Bronx International High School, in a theater full of students, elected officials, and community leaders at the end of September, French also announced that he’d be donating $50,000 to the Knowledge House to fund a tech coding scholarship in his name. What a guy!

Hear French's story.
[link removed]

[link removed]
WATCH
What You Need to Know About New York’s Historic New Laws

Currently in New York, two out of three people in jail have not yet been convicted of a crime. Instead, they are locked behind bars because they could not afford to pay bail. But after years of advocacy from a broad coalition of organizations and directly impacted people, the state legislature passed a historic package of bail, discovery, and speedy trial reforms. In partnership with ATTN, we released a video showing how this package of reforms will change the lives of thousands of New Yorkers when they take effect on January 1, 2020. Our own Rena Karefa-Johnson discusses what that means and explains what comes next to ensure the presumption of innocence for all New Yorkers.

Check out the video!
[link removed]

[link removed]
DECODING AMICUS BRIEFS
Amicus Briefs, Explained: What Are They And How Are They Being Used to Help Dreamers?

So, what is an amicus brief, anyway? We’re not all legal experts or Supreme Court justices, it turns out, but it’s still important for us to understand how this process helps show the broad support for Dreamers in the runup to the November 12 hearing. So here’s a simple explanation, in comic form.

Decode amicus briefs.
[link removed]

[link removed]
STAND WITH DREAMERS
The Plaintiffs: Attorneys, Advocates, and Plaintiffs Meet in DC

Ahead of November 12, the plaintiffs in the upcoming Supreme Court case flew to D.C. to prepare for the Supreme Court hearing. These are the courageous DACA recipients who sued the government and are the reason DACA recipients are still able to renew their DACA today. They met with attorneys Ted Olson and Michael Mongan, who will be defending DACA in the Supreme Court.

DACA recipients’ lives are here, their #HomeIsHere, and they should stay here. Support DACA recipients today by adding your name.
[link removed]

The FWD.us Newsletter is a roundup of the biggest news on our failing immigration and criminal justice systems - and the supporter movement uniting behind reform.

This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving emails from FWD.us, click here

[link removed]

.

FWD.us
PO Box 15015
Washington, D.C. 20003