Dear John,
Yesterday evening, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful.
Significantly for current DACA holders, the appeals court allowed the Biden administration to continue processing and approving renewal applications while the litigation continues. However, hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth who have become eligible since 2017 have no protection while this legal and policy nightmare continues. No protection from deportation. No right to work. No way to move forward with their education, their careers, and their lives.
This back and forth with people’s lives is unbearable. But in the face of this unbearable pain, we will continue to make sure everyone who is still eligible for DACA and our services can continue to file renewals. We will advocate relentlessly for DACA and the creation of a pathway to citizenship.
Today, we ask you to join us in taking action. Let us channel our anger, frustration, and sadness into supporting Minnesota’s 5,000 DACA holders and the thousands of Minnesota immigrant youth who have been unable to apply for the program.
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Contact your legislators and tell them to swiftly pass a pathway to citizenship for all DREAMers. Congress must act, but it will only act if members know that supporting DREAMers is a top priority for their constituents.
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If you are able, support ILCM’s work to support DREAMers through representation, education, and advocacy. Since the decision yesterday, we have prepared fact sheets and are collaborating with partners on a Facebook Live for the affected community, and we are ensuring that all low-income DACA holders in Minnesota continue to receive the highest quality representation. We could not do this without your support.
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If you’re a legal professional, sign up for ILCM’s DACA Renewal Pro Bono Training on November 15th and support a DACA recipient to renew their status and maintain their right to be protected from deportation and to work. An average DACA renewal case only takes about 6 hours but makes a significant difference in the lives our clients and their families.
By supporting ILCM’s vehement work advocating for DACA and DREAMers, you are supporting life-changing new beginnings. Thank you for your compassion, partnership, and generosity.
