Friend,

I’m going to be blunt — the writing is on the wall, DACA is coming to an end and Congress has just a little over two weeks to do something about it. This is not about politics or party affiliation, it is about hundreds of thousands of people who are firmly rooted in this country, our home, and stopping politically motivated attacks from upending our lives.

Last month, NILC and partners organized a week of action so that directly impacted people could deliver this message to members of Congress themselves. I was honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with people like Agripina, Francisco, Karina, Amari, and Ana, whose stories we are now sharing with you today.

A majority of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and immigrant youth. Top U.S. businesses have warned that if DACA recipients lose the ability to work, there will be an economic crisis. If DACA ends, families could be torn apart. In short, Congress doesn’t need another good reason why they should act on DACA, they need the courage to do so.

And should our elected officials need inspiration for how to be brave, they should look to the people that they met last month. Agripina, a mother and trained nurse from Brownsville, traveling with her eight-month-old to fight for her family’s ability to stay together. Ana, who came to the U.S. as a toddler and has now lived here for 24 years, and for whom DACA allows her to provide for her aging parents.

And me — I spend my days at NILC working to make the vision of a fair and just immigration system a reality. My career would not be possible if not for DACA, which allowed me to go to college because my home state, South Carolina, specifically bans undocumented students from enrolling at public colleges and universities.

We have all spent years pursuing our dreams despite the pervasive fear and anxiety as to whether it could all be taken away with one court decision. And if we can find the strength and courage to rise above and go to college, become nurses, providers, and advocates, Congress certainly can come together to do what is right – this year, before it is too late.

Call on Congress to pass citizenship for DACA recipients and immigrant youth by the end of December >>>

When you stand with us, it truly makes a difference and with so little time left, every single message to Congress helps in our fight for citizenship. So, thank you, friend, for raising your voice on behalf of our communities today.

Sincerely,

Diana Pliego
Policy Associate
National Immigration Law Center