|  | We Side With Love... We side with the Dreamers and other DACA recipients! |
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| | On the 12th Anniversary of DACA |
| | "It has been 12 years since the Obama administration issued the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. DACA was envisioned as a temporary policy to provide certain young undocumented immigrants, often referred to as 'Dreamers', relief from deportation and work authorization until Congress could act on a permanent solution. "Even though as many as 68% of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Congress has failed to act. This means that DACA recipients have lived in a 'twilight zone' of uncertainty for 4,383 days and counting. "Consistent with our faith we Side With Love, to say, 'Congress needs to pass the Dream Act now! Congress needs to protect Dreamers and other DACA recipients!'" - Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director, UUSJ |
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| | Side With Love, Show Your Support for DACA Recipients Dear Friend, On June 15, 2012, President Obama announced DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), an executive action to lift the specter of deportation for young people and other qualified recipients who came to the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. (Reference: Immigration 101: What is a Dreamer? - America's Voice.) Since its inception, DACA has enabled over 600,000 young immigrants to pursue their dreams in the U.S., benefiting their families, communities, and economy. Currently, 93% of DACA-eligible individuals are employed when not in school. They contribute $42 billion to the annual GDP and pay $6.2 billion in federal taxes and $3.3 billion in state taxes yearly. Despite this programmatic success, the policy's future is uncertain. On September 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an order declaring the DACA Final Rule unlawful. The DACA case is before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which has already affirmed that the 2012 DACA policy was unlawful. -
Last Summer, in anticipation of the Southern District's order, after years of advocacy to protect and expand DACA, we proposed the Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) “Protect the Dreamers, the Recipients of DACA, with a Pathway to Permanent Residence,” which received 98% of the votes at General Assembly. -
Then we called on Congress to give Dreamers and DACA recipients a pathway to permanent residence, and mobilized UUs in support. -
Next, our Immigration Action Team rolled up their sleeves and got to work, engaging across multiple coalitions to carry water and represent UUs in the needed work for Dreamers and DACA. -
In February 2024, we joined an Amicus Brief to defend Dreamers and DACA. -
This Spring, we have consistently highlighted the work permit issue and how it affects multiple aspects of our immigration advocacy and our nation's culture of welcome, including for DACA recipients. Pablo, in marking the 12th Anniversary of the DACA program, we have simple requests: -
Take our action, make sure you lift your voice for DACA with UUSJ, and table after services. -
Then take the actions we support across our coalition work, and sponsored by allies. -
Consider a matching donation, the stakes couldn't be higher this election for our communities and values. |
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| | Actions for DACA you can take |
| | Act for the Dreamers and Other DACA Recipients UUSJ called on our denomination to support the Dreamers and other DACA recipients in their communities and to contact members of Congress to advocate for their protection. We resolved to be vocal and forward-leaning in our work. Take our action to support Dreamers and DACA and download our poster. We encouraged our supporters and denomination to: - Deepen our theological grounding
- Collaborate with local partners and combat anti-immigrant narratives, including those by state legislatures, and to
- Work with grassroots organizations/campaigns centered on those most directly affected by anti-immigration policies and other failures of the U.S. immigration system.
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| Biden Should Strengthen and Expand DACA For many, the 12th anniversary of DACA is not a moment of celebration but rather a reminder of DACA’s fragile, uncertain future. With the fate of DACA now in the hands of the conservative 5th Circuit Court, we must show up in even bigger numbers to fight for each other. Join United We Dream and the Home is Here coalition, in showing up for our communities. Take action, sign the petition! Tell President Biden he must act now. Tell the President to take proactive measures that strengthen and expand protections for DACA recipients, DACA-eligible and non-eligible youth, and all others who call this country their home. |
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| DACA Recipients Demand Automatic Extensions UUSJ is a member of the Work Permit Coalition. In May, the Coalition noted that DACA recipients are experiencing processing delays when renewing their DACA and work authorizations. Hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients across the U.S. face delays in their renewal process. These delays have severe consequences: causing job losses, jeopardizing access to healthcare, and fueling constant fear of deportation. To prevent DACA recipients from experiencing a gap in their work authorization and DACA grants, the Coalition asks the administration to (1) issue consecutive grants, (2) publish more data about processing times, and (3) include DACA recipients in the work permit extension. Sign the petition now to urge the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take immediate steps to address this crisis. |
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| | World Refugee Day Should be for Welcome World Refugee Day on June 20th is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the strength and courage of all those around the world who have been forced to flee from their homes. This year, 130 million people globally are expected to face displacement amid increasing conflict, violence, and climate disaster. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is implementing extreme restrictions on asylum seekers’ right to seek protection. At this crucial time, join CWS in taking action to urge national and local leaders to vocally support refugees and other displaced people and to and build stronger, more resilient pathways to protection and resettlement. |
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