Young people have been consistent leaders in movements that advocate for progressive solutions to the issues facing this country–and we are creating substantive change. In November, young people under the age of 35 turned out to vote in historic numbers in large part because of our desire for progressive solutions to issues like the climate crisis, systemic racism, and the gun violence epidemic. Throughout the campaign, Millennials and members of Generation Z made it clear that we want to see action from our government. Now that the election is over and a new administration has come into office, it"s important for us to know who has influence over the issues we care about and who is responsible for enacting the solutions we want to see.  

On January 20th, President Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States. And a new president is just the start when it comes to changes in the executive branch of government. One of Biden"s first tasks as president has been appointing the leaders of the departments and agencies that make up the rest of the executive branch. This change in leadership will have a massive impact on many of the issues that young people care about.  

The new executive branch will include the President"s Cabinet which consists of heads of executive departments, independent agencies and other boards, commissions, and committees. These high-level officials serve as advisors to the president, using their expertise to inform the president"s decision-making. Within the departments and agencies that they lead, they are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws and policies. They administer programs, make funding decisions, and collect and analyze data. These agencies set the stage for what is possible in an administration, meaning that the leaders of federal departments and agencies will directly impact whether or not the goals of our generations are accomplished. This is why leadership change is so important and thinking beyond the seat of the presidency is critical. 

Many of President Biden"s appointees require Senate confirmation. As those confirmation hearings and votes continue, we wanted to break down exactly what young people can expect from the various departments and agencies under the Biden-Harris administration when it comes to the policy priorities that they want to see enacted. 

Student Debt

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB is tasked with protecting American consumers by regulating products and services that fall under federal consumer laws. The bureau also aims to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions through the spread of information and educational resources. In terms of student debt, the CFPB has the power to protect borrowers through the regulation of servicers and lenders. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Rohit Chopra

Rohit Chopra is currently a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, and has previously served as the assistant director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he worked directly on protections for people with student loans. Chopra has also served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he worked alongside Generation Progress to address the student debt crisis.

Status: Awaiting confirmation

Department of Education (ED)

The Department of Education may be best known for its role in supporting and strengthening K-12 education. However, ED also regulates and enforces rules to limit or expand the power of student loan lenders, services, banks, and colleges and universities. The department has significant power to act on student debt–including, most notably, the power to cancel student debt in part or in whole. It also has the power to shore up regulations that prevent predatory institutions from  defrauding students and borrowers. The Secretary of Education can lead this department to protect borrowers through regulatory rulemaking, cancelling student loans, and issuing guidance on how federal funding for colleges can be used.  

Biden-Harris Appointee: Miguel Cardona

Miguel Cardona is a former teacher and has previously served as the Connecticut Commissioner of Education.

Status: Confirmed

Climate

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA protects natural resources like air, land, and water to defend human and environmental health. The agency leads the country in developing and enforcing federal climate policy and conducts research to further public understanding of environmental health and risks. The Administrator of the EPA has the power to fight climate change by putting in place health and environmental safeguards, creating jobs in clean energy technology, and instating more forceful environmental protections and regulations. And importantly, they can prioritize policies that build resilience in frontline communities and embed environmental justice in all the work they advance. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Michael S. Regan

Michael S. Regan previously served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and has also served as Air Quality Controller for the EPA under Pres. Obama. The Biden administration has indicated that it will prioritize environmental justice in its climate policy, acknowledging that BIPOC communities are often most impacted by pollution, natural disasters, and other manifestations of climate change. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of the Interior (DOI)

The Department of the Interior is tasked with conservation and management of the country"s natural resources. The department also works closely alongside Indigenous communities to protect public lands. The Interior Secretary has the power to address the climate crisis by implementing comprehensive regulations and protective measures and prevent pollution and exploitation of natural resources by corporate interests.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Representative Deb Halaand

Rep. Haaland is a U.S. Representative from New Mexico’s 1st congressional district. Rep. Haaland is the first Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. Her nomination was enthusiastically supported by many young and Indigenous advocates.

Status: Confirmed

Department of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy develops scientific and technological solutions to address energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges.The Secretary of Energy has the power to combat climate change by supporting research and innovation that would cut down on carbon pollution, develop further production of renewable and clean energy.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Jennifer Granholm

Jennifer Granholm is the former Governor of Michigan, and the first woman to ever serve in that role.

Status: Confirmed

Gun Violence Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services serves the public by advancing medicine, public health, and social services. The department has the power to combat the gun violence epidemic by declaring gun violence to be a public health emergency, which could result in the allocation of additional resources to address the issue and the promotion of community-led gun violence prevention measures at the federal, state, and local level.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ is tasked with enforcing federal gun laws and regulating the gun industry, among its many duties. This department has the power to shape our criminal legal system, combat police brutality and white supremacy, and use a racial equity lens to address gun violence by supporting a public health approach and community-centered violence solutions. The department is led by the Attorney General.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Merrick Garland

Attorney General Garland previously served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

Status: Confirmed

Immigration

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The Department of Homeland Security oversees security efforts in the areas of border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cyber security, and anti-terrorism security. The department also houses the Customs and Border Protection (CBP),  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The DHS Secretary has the power to work with President Biden to implement immigration policy that centers human dignity and provides a pathway to citizenship.

Biden-Harris Appointee: Alejandro Mayorkas

Alejandro Mayorkas is the first Latinx person and immigrant to lead this Department. Mayorkas served in prominent DHS roles during the Obama administration, including Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Deputy DHS Secretary, and led the development and implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

As discussed in the section on gun violence prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services serves the public through advancing medicine, public health and social services. The department, via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is also responsible for ensuring the care and safety of "unaccompanied children"–children who do not have lawful immigration status in the United States, are under the age of 18, and do not have a parent or legal guardian in the United States.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Conclusion

When young people turned out to vote in November, we voted for a president and vice president. But the impact of our votes extends far beyond those two positions, leading to new people in key positions that will determine U.S. policy for years to come. With this new leadership, young people can expect to see bolder interagency solutions to the urgent issues facing our country that meet the needs of the lived experiences of us all. Over the coming months and years, young people will be paying close attention to who is leading these agencies, what their policy priorities are, and what they are able to accomplish. We expect these new leaders–not just the president–to keep the needs of young people in mind as they go about their work, and we look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together. 

The post Beyond the Presidency: How Biden Appointees Can Take Action on Youth Issues appeared first on Generation Progress.

In just over a month, the Biden-Harris administration has  taken meaningful action on some of the core issues that matter to Millennials and Generation Z, which is a testament to the work and power of young activists and organizers.

Advocacy and activism is hard, often emotionally draining work, and it is hugely important that we pause to celebrate these early accomplishments. It is also important to recognize the priorities that young voters and advocates are still hoping to see the Biden-Harris administration act on in the coming weeks and months–including gun violence prevention, student debt cancellation, continued support for a national $15 minimum wage, and additional rescue checks in the next COVID relief package.

Without the work of young people who marched, made calls, sent emails, and spread the word, the gains of the last month would not have been possible. There is still significant work to be done, but it is clear that our generations are up for the challenge and our efforts will continue to deliver results. 

COVID Pandemic and Economic Survival

More than 500,000 American citizens and residents have died due to  COVID-19. To slow the spread of the virus, people have physically distanced from others, been prevented from visiting friends and family, and countless people have lost jobs or income because of the economic fallout of the pandemic. To make matters worse, a recent study found that 40 percent of all U.S. COVID deaths were preventable, and a disastrous federal response to the pandemic by the Trump administration exacerbated the suffering. To put it simply, the collective loss is staggering.

It is, therefore, not surprising that ending the COVID pandemic polled as the top issue for young people during the election. Young Americans want swift and decisive action from the Biden-Harris administration to contain the pandemic and support those suffering from related economic hardship. The Biden-Harris administration has responded, including with the following actions:

• Purchased 200 million more doses of COVID vaccines, increasing supply by 50 percent and giving the country enough vaccines to cover every American adult by the end of July. 
• Significantly increased the distribution of vaccines to states and created new federal vaccination sites to administer the vaccines directly to people, especially those in communities that are most vulnerable.
• Created the COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce to mitigate health and social inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and appointed Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith to lead the task force. Young Black voters ranked ending systemic racism and discrimination nearly as high as ending the COVID pandemic, which makes the creation of this taskforce particularly important. 
• Invoked the Defense Production Act to expand and accelerate COVID testing and vaccine production and distribution, and to increase availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves and N95 masks–the type of masks that provide the most effective filtration and protection, but which have largely been unavailable in the United States over the past year.
• Expanded the role of Dr. Anthony Fauci–a trusted voice in the scientific community and among young Americans–to make him chief medical adviser and part of Biden"s COVID-19 team, and empowered him to speak candidly with the American public about the state of the pandemic and the steps we must collectively take to contain it.
• Nominated Xavier Becerra, a staunch defender of the Affordable Care Act and proponent of universal health care and abortion access, to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Proposed the American Rescue Plan, which would:
  • Provide $1400 relief checks per adult, to build on the $600 relief checks authorized by Congress in December 2020.
  • Provide support for adult dependents and mixed-status families, both of whom were excluded from one or both of the previous COVID relief packages.
  • Provide colleges with the necessary resources to implement public health protocols, execute distance learning plans, and provide emergency grants to students in need.  
  • Allocate an additional $35 billion in rental, mortgage, and homelessness assistance in order to address the housing insecurity that many young people are experiencing.

Climate Change and Environmental Justice

Young people across the world have been leading the movement to address climate change and environmental injustice; the same has been true in the United States, where young advocates have been the pulse of the climate movement. Climate change polled as a top concern for young voters during the election.

Immediately following Joe Biden"s Democratic primary victory, young climate advocates called for Biden to revamp his climate plan and release a bolder, more ambitious climate platform. Biden responded with the most ambitious climate platform of any major party nominee, and through executive actions and senior-level appointments and nominations, President Biden has delivered numerous early victories in the climate space. The Biden-Harris administration"s early climate policies and actions have drawn praise from groups including the Sunrise Movement. The administration"s early actions include:

• Signed an executive order within hours of taking office to re-join the Paris Agreement on climate change, the 2015 landmark accord in which the nearly 200 nation-signers commit to limit their greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Revoked the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have brought oil from Alberta, Canada all the way to the Texas Gulf. The pipeline was opposed by numerous Indigenous and young (and young Indigenous) leaders in the climate movement, and Biden"s early executive action on this is seen as a clear signal for the administration"s stance on climate.
• Instituted a pause on new leases for oil and natural gas development on federal lands and waters. 
• Created, via executive order, the Justice40 Initiative, with the goal of delivering 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities and tracking performance toward that goal through the establishment of an Environmental Justice Scorecard. Centering the Justice40 Initiative alongside other early climate actions, provides an early indication of the Biden-Harris administration"s commitment to environmental justice. 
• Committed to an ambitious conservation goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. land and coastal seas by 2030. Known as "30×30" in the conservation community, the effort will help fight climate change and reverse the destruction of our wildlife, waters, and natural places.
• Established a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council and a White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, "to prioritize environmental justice and ensure a whole-of-government approach to addressing current and historical environmental injustices, including strengthening environmental justice monitoring and enforcement through new or strengthened offices at the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services."
• Established the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, led by the first-ever White House National Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy, reflecting the significance that climate issues will have in the Biden-Harris administration. McCarthy"s appointment and early comments have been celebrated by young advocates. Ali Zaid, the new Deputy National Climate Advisor, has also been celebrated as a young leader who played a key role in developing the Obama administration"s Climate Action Plan and helping negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement. 
• Appointed John Kerry to serve as the first-ever United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, a role tasked with the global climate change crisis. In his role as Special Envoy for Climate, Kerry is also a member of the White House National Security Council. and elevated the role to cabinet-level
• Nominated Representative Deb Haaland to serve as the Secretary of the Department of the Interior. If confirmed, Rep. Haaland will be the first-ever Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet Secretary. Her nomination was advocated for by environmental activists.

Criminal Justice Reform

While climate change actions have taken center stage in the early days of the Biden-Harris administration, there have also been some promising steps taken to reform the criminal justice system and provide second chances to those who"ve previously been convicted of a felony. Young people, ages 18 to 35, are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system–they make up 30 percent of the adult population, but 60 percent of adult arrests and 42 percent of prison admissions. The often-lifetime collateral consequences that follow a conviction can have profound negative impacts on people"s ability to obtain living-wage employment, stable housing, and educational credentials. Young people"s overrepresentation in the system is a major concern for generations that have already witnessed their parents" generation endure massive incarceration growth which began in the 1970s and accelerated in the early 1980s, which inflicted incalculable harm on Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities. The good news is that over the past few years a gradual decline has begun, and the Biden-Harris administration has taken early steps that demonstrate a desire to see that decline accelerate.

• Issued an executive order to not renew federal contracts with private prisons. Roughly 12 percent of the total U.S. population is in federal prison, and about 16 percent of those in federal prison were held in private prisons. So, eliminating private prison contracts at the federal level will not eliminate mass incarceration nationally, but it does indicate that the Biden-Harris administration anticipates continued decreases in the federal prison population. Previously, private prisons have been used by the federal government when the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) runs out of capacity. Not renewing those contracts means that the BOP will need less capacity than it currently has, which means fewer people in prison. It is also noteworthy that this action came in week one of the Biden-Harris administration, whereas a similar order–which was widely celebrated by advocates–came in the final six months of the Obama administration before being rescinded under Donald Trump, showing that the progress made during the Obama administration is the foundation upon which the Biden-Harris administration will build, rather than the ceiling.
• Eliminated exclusions for business owners with non-fraud felony convictions from accessing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Paycheck Protection Program was passed by Congress to help small businesses survive the COVID pandemic and economic fallout, but the Trump administration added rules during the implementation of PPP that excluded thousands of business owners who were arrested or convicted of a felony within the past year. The Biden-Harris administration eliminated those discriminatory restrictions.    
• Reinstated prosecutorial discretion by rescinding former Attorney General Jeff Sessions" memo that prosecutors must "charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense." Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson issued a memo to all federal prosecutors rolling back Sessions" harsh charging and sentencing policy and reinstated–on an interim basis–2010 guidance from former Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. which requires prosecutors to make charging decisions based on an individualized assessment of each case. Advocates praised this move as a "clean break from the unjust tactics of over-incarceration."
• Nominated experienced civil rights attorneys Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke as Associate Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, respectively. During the prior four years, the Department of Justice had been misused and–in some cases–leveraged to actually inflict harm in people"s lives. From the deployment of BOP correctional officers to US cities during racial justice protests and uprisings, to joining court cases in opposition to LGBTQ rights and affordable healthcare, the new DOJ political leadership will have to reinspire confidence in both the agency"s career staff and the country at-large. Nominees Vanita Gupta–who would serve as the number three official at the Department–and Kristen Clarke–who would lead the Civil Rights Division–are nationally-recognized civil rights attorneys whose confirmation would signal a significant shift in the Department"s orientation, and provides an encouraging sign that the Biden-Harris administration will seriously address the issues of over-incarceration and discrimination against people with criminal records.  

Immigration

After four years of inhumane and xenophobic immigration policy under Trump–who made "Build The Wall" the rallying cry of his 2016 presidential election–it is heartening to see the Biden-Harris administration take immediate action to reverse some of the most harmful policies from that era and begin to chart a new path forward. The last year has seen a protracted battle over the Trump administration"s unlawful termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that resulted in DACA recipients living in fear of being deported to countries that many of them do not even remember. The Supreme Court declared that termination unlawful in June of this year, and Biden has already affirmed that the policy will be protected under his leadership. In a positive step forward, the Biden-Harris administration has already introduced an ambitious bill with Congressional Democrats that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for most of the 11 million undocumented people in the United States, as well as eliminate restrictions on family-based immigration and expand worker visas. 

• Ended the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy, under which the Department of Justice criminally prosecuted all adults who crossed the border without documentation, with no exception for asylum seekers or parents of minor children, and without regard for individual circumstances. The zero-tolerance policy led to the separation of children from their parents and families, which drew widespread condemnation for its depravity and cruelty. 
• Created a taskforce to reunite children who were separated from their families under the Trump administration"s family separation policy. The taskforce will include the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Service, and will include involvement from Julissa Reynoso, Chief of Staff to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
• Ended the so-called "Muslim Ban." This ban, which barred people from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the United States, was imposed by the Trump administration in 2017 and drew criticism for religious discrimination. 
• Reaffirmed support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On Biden"s first day in office, he signed a presidential memorandum that directed the Secretary of Homeland Security and Attorney General to take action to preserve the program.
• Ended the "Remain in Mexico" policy put in place by the Trump administration, which required asylum-seekers traveling to the U.S. from across the U.S.-Mexico border to await their immigration court date in Mexico. This policy left many vulnerable asylum-seekers in often dangerous and transient conditions.
• Mandated incorporating undocumented immigrants into the census. The Trump administration tried (unsuccessfully) to add a citizenship question to the Census, which would likely deter immigrants from participating in the Census, resulting in an undercounting of the districts that they live in and reducing both federal funding and political power for those districts over the next ten years.
• Terminated the construction and funding of the wall at the U.S. southern border.

The post A Look Back at Some of Young People’s Priorities in Month One of the Biden-Harris Administration appeared first on Generation Progress.

Sarah Souza

Many young immigrants feel called to political action as a way for them to fight for laws and policies that will empower and celebrate their communities. Sarah Souza answered that call–today, she focuses on ensuring that immigrant communities have a voice in their government and are able to control their own destinies. Everyone, regardless of immigration status, has a right to make decisions about their health, family, and future with dignity and self-determination.  

Sarah and her family came to the U.S. from Brazil when she was a teenager, and she spent the remainder of her childhood undocumented in California. Having spent over a decade of organizing for immigrant communities, Sarah–now a Dreamer*–has become a fierce leader at the forefront of social justice issues both at the local level in San Francisco and at the state level, where she fights for systemic changes on issues including housing, immigration, economic justice, and public education. She has also joined other Latinx leaders in meeting with members of Congress to advocate for humane and inclusive immigration reform. 

Sarah"s notable accomplishments include her trailblazing work as the first Dreamer to lead state and local political organizations. Through her leadership in those organizations, she has pushed for legislation focusing on empowering Dreamers, TPS, and green card holders to run for CA State Delegate positions and Central County Committees. Through her advocacy, Sarah has built momentum for state-wide reforms that will advance immigrants" representation in government and enact policy to serve community needs.

Currently, Sarah is leading  the Coalition San Francisco Commissions for All and working at a community based organization connecting immigrant families to essential resources during this pandemic. In the coming months and years, she sees an opportunity to redefine the narrative of the immigrant movement by breaking barriers and opening doors for political leadership.

We talked with Sarah to learn more about why she is in the fight and what YOU can do to be a part of it. Check out her Q&A below:

When did you get involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, and why did you decide to go into the kind of work you are doing now?

I immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 15 from Brazil. When I first came to the U.S., I had no idea what my experience would be living as an undocumented immigrant–I attended high school and college before DACA* was introduced by the Obama administration. As a young girl, I had to figure out how to succeed in school and thrive as a human being in the face of real challenges that resulted from my immigration status. I always had the hope that one day I would be able to make my mom"s American Dream a reality, which was to have the opportunity to get a college degree and a better life. 

As an immigrant raised by a single mother, I had to overcome many barriers such as bullying in school and discrimination, as well as face the persistent and harmful reality that I had to be perfect in order for some people to believe that I deserve to live in this country. As an undocumented student in high school, I had to deal with hostile situations simply because I am an immigrant. My experience as an immigrant is what gave me the ability to become a resilient leader and inspired me to use my story as a tool for social change on issues such as immigrant rights, labor, and economic justice. My personal life experience shaped my commitment to focus on systemic change and humanize the face of immigrants in the U.S.

What is particularly important about the work you"re doing at your organization / in your personal capacity to advocate for immigrant communities? How does it reflect your values as a young person trying to affect change in immigration policy? What are you working on right now that the media is — or should be — paying attention to? 

I am currently working on the Covid-19 San Francisco Latino Task force project which is designed to connect immigrant families to essential resources such as food, housing, and health tools. As an immigrant leader, I am leading a state-wide effort to build awareness on intersectional issues affecting the immigrant community and people of color in California. Often, immigrant issues are talked about as a separate issue, but it is crucial to fight against the criminalization of immigrants. I am working towards reclaiming our value as human beings. The work I am doing in California is inspiring legislators and community leaders to promote more inclusive systemic changes to address discrimination.

I am also leading efforts to address financial barriers in the immigrant community, such as income inequality. As a Dreamer activist, my priority is to leverage my work and leadership opportunities to humanize the immigrant narrative. Immigrants come to this country with dreams and hope to live a better life; we are American in every way. Regardless of status, immigrants contribute economically and culturally to this country and bring diversity. Overall, the media should be more proactive in denouncing the current narrative and marginalization of immigrant families. As Americans, we should condemn racism and oppressive systems.

What kind of future for immigrant communities are you working towards? How do you think the movement will help create a better future for immigrant communities? 

As an immigrant leader, I am working towards a more inclusive and equitable future for immigrants in California and across the country. I am taking the lead to advocate for more humane immigration reform. We must not forget the kids that are still held in cages–immigrant families are suffering. The immigrant movement should focus on shaping more inclusive solutions: I want a future where we can thrive as a community. This movement will lead to societal transformational changes focused on social justice for immigrants and people of color. As a Latina and Dreamer Activist, I am fighting for systemic changes that will create a better future for immigrant communities. Overall, I envision a future where immigrants can live without the fear and anxiety of being deported or losing a loved one. 

Why should young adults, especially those who aren"t directly impacted by current immigration policies, get involved in the kind of work you are doing or with immigration causes more broadly?

Young adults should get involved in the immigrant rights movement because it is an American issue. Immigrant families across the country sacrificed their lives to immigrate to this country, escaping oppressive systems in search of opportunities. More than 11 million undocumented immigrants are living in fear due to their status. The current administration has generated a lot of anxiety due to the constant attacks on our communities. 

Our constitutional rights must be protected, and as young leaders, we have a moral responsibility to fight for civil rights and justice.

As an immigrant, how do you hope to see allies demonstrate their support? / As an ally advocating for immigrants, how do you demonstrate your solidarity with immigrants at this time in our country? 

As an immigrant, I hope to see allies demonstrate their support by fighting against the concept of legality and criminalization. Immigrants should not be labeled as legal or illegal; we are human beings, and we are enough regardless of status. Organize in your community to  push for humane immigration reform, and share your stories as to why it is important to fight for immigrant rights and dismantling oppressive systems. Also, allies should promote the stories of immigrants that depict their strength as human beings and their contributions to this country. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". We must fight for immigrant rights because it is our moral duty. 

(*)Glossary: 

Dreamer – Sometimes written as “DREAMers”; refers to those individuals who were brought to the U.S. at an early age and, while lacking a legal immigration status and rights of citizenship, have grown-up and lived in the country nearly their entire lives. The term"s origins come from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which was introduced in 2001 to provide these young immigrants with a pathway to permanent legal status and, eventually, citizenship.

DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, created in the Obama administration era to protect young immigrants who entered the U.S. at a young age from the risk of being deported. The program also gives recipients a chance to work and go to school in the U.S. 

The post Immigration Profile Series: Sarah Souza appeared first on Generation Progress.

Lauryn Fanguen

 Lauryn Fanguen was born in Fez, Morocco to parents of Moroccan and Cameroonian ancestry. She and her family came to the Washington D.C. area when she was only three years old. Now a grown woman and immigrant "Dreamer"* who has lived around the nation"s capitol nearly her entire life, Lauryn"s experiences have informed her advocacy around the issues affecting the diverse American immigrant community.

Lauryn graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2019–just months before the Supreme Court will determine the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)* program, which allowed Lauryn to access a higher education and attend classes in relative safety. Lauryn is grateful for the opportunities she"s been provided, and she knows what"s at stake for her community the and hundreds of thousands of other DACA recipients who depend on the program to continue living and working in this country. She is using her voice to bring a shared humanity to the issues facing immigrant families and to rally others to act in solidarity.

Lauryn knows that immigrants have complicated and intersecting identities–their immigrant identities are interwoven with their identities as women, LGBTQ people, people of color, and disabled people. Lauryn understands the significance of how we combine those issues when we talk about them–weaving the connections into strong bonds between communities who, while fighting for different issues, are nevertheless linked.

We talked with Lauryn to learn more about why she is in the fight and what YOU can do to be a part of it. Check out her Q&A below:

When did you first get involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, and why did you decide to do the kind of advocacy you"re doing now? 

I first got involved in general activism in high school. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, it’s normal to stay informed and attend rallies. This very quickly became my “lane.” I had not focused my activism on immigration until the Trump administration first attempted to rescind DACA, but when that happened I felt that I had to start sharing my story. I knew that I would be expected to be vocal about this issue, since I had been that way about all similarly hot topics, and I felt like hiding my personal connection would have been disingenuous. I had to use my voice and position within my community to humanize DACA recipients.

You just graduated from college at the same time when the U.S. Supreme Court of the U.S is considering the fate of the DACA program. Given the program"s protections that have allowed you and so many other Dreamers to pursue your studies and careers in relative safety, what are your thoughts about this moment in our country?

This country is at a crossroads and vulnerable communities are scared because our lives are at stake. I graduated college early with a 4.0 but it wasn"t easy. Getting paid internships to pay for my education out of pocket on my own was by far the most mentally and emotionally exhausting thing I"ve ever done. At one point I was balancing being a full-time student with two internships and volunteering. I was forced to grow up quickly and face responsibilities many of my peers did not. But DACA is what made me eligible to legally work and pay for school. If DACA ends and Congress doesn"t pass immigration reform, life as I know it will be over. 

What is particularly important about what you"re doing to advocate for immigrant communities? How does it reflect your values as a young person trying to affect change in immigration policy?

Racial representation in advocacy and policy matters. I am intentionally vocal about my immigration status and my Blackness because this issue is often seen as a Latino issue. I also share my story to fight the media narrative around immigrants. While doing so, I"m careful to not equate my personal victories to my worthiness. As young people, we have come to realize that everyone is different and has their talents and limitations. Yet that does not make anyone worth more than someone else. This fact should be reflected in our immigration policies–we should not score people based on arbitrary requirements but instead recognize our shared humanity.

How can we use more nuance when talking about issues, like DACA, that are important to the immigrant community?

The racial diversity of DACA recipients is vastly overlooked. I"m very open about the fact that I was born in Morocco, but no one has ever thought to question my immigration status. Growing up, I overheard jokes addressed to many of my Latino peers about their lack of documentation, but they did not think to direct those same jokes at me. When DACA is framed as a Latino issue, you"re ignoring the Black, Asian, and even white DACA recipients and limiting our ability to build a broader coalition. When discussing the immigrant community, like with all communities, it"s imperative to avoid using stereotypes and intentionally and actively fight your implicit bias. 

As an immigrant, how do you hope to see allies demonstrate their support?

I hope to see allies educate themselves before accidentally falling prey to false mainstream narratives. For example, I have heard countless people describe DACA as “a program Obama started that gives temporary deportation relief for young people who came into the United States illegally.” That is not accurate. Many undocumented people, myself included, did not come in illegally. We came in legally with a visa and overstayed. While this detail may seem minute, it is just one example of the inaccurate statements that well-intentioned allies constantly repeat. This misinformation is detrimental to the movement.

What kind of future for immigrant communities are you working towards? How do you think the movement will help create a better future for immigrant communities? 

My hope for the future of immigrant communities is that immigrants themselves can determine their futures. Growing up, my opportunities were constantly limited because of my status. I was always smart, charismatic, outgoing, and determined. But my biggest fear was failing to reach my full potential–not because I wasn"t good enough, but because my immigration status wouldn’t let me. I didn"t get over this fear until I graduated from college. For a long time, I wasn"t sure that would even happen. Undocumented students don"t get financial aid or federal loans, which made financing my education more difficult. My status could have stopped me from graduating.

How can we reach people who may not know a lot about"“or may be indifferent to"“the issues facing immigrant communities? How can we bring more young people into the movement, even if they aren"t personally affected by immigration issues?

It"s important to highlight how immigration is connected to whatever other issues people care about. Many of the issues young adults care about are intersectional. We"re passionate about LGBTQ rights, racial equity, access to healthcare, higher wages, etc. Sometimes young adults fail to see the connections with immigration and these other issues. 

Undocumented LGBTQ people might get killed if they"re deported back to a country that doesn"t celebrate who they are. Undocumented Black people, who are statistically more likely to get pulled over by cops because of their race, can then get deported if that cop calls in ICE. Undocumented people are less likely to have health care and are exploited by companies who pay them below the minimum wage because they can"t fight back. 

It’s all connected.

(*)Glossary: 

Dreamer – Sometimes written as “DREAMers”; refers to those individuals who were brought to the U.S. at an early age and, while lacking a legal immigration status and rights of citizenship, have grown-up and lived in the country nearly their entire lives. The term"s origins come from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which was introduced in 2001 to provide these young immigrants with a pathway to permanent legal status and, eventually, citizenship.

DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, created in the Obama administration era to protect young immigrants who entered the U.S. at a young age from the risk of being deported. The program also gives recipients a chance to work and go to school in the U.S. 

The post Immigration Profile Series: Lauryn Fanguen appeared first on Generation Progress.

The voices of young advocates working in the immigrants" rights movement inspire us and demonstrate the diversity of ways in which young people are leading it.

Check out our ongoing Immigration Activist Profile Series as we highlight these young advocates, their unique stories supporting immigrant communities, and their thoughts on how we can all get involved and show solidarity.

Give each a read and be sure to share!

Sandra Avalos

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Sandra Esther Avalos Ortega came to the U.S. in 1996 at a young age. Even before she received protections through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Sandra dedicated herself to empowering disadvantaged youth in her home city of Dallas, Texas.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Fernanda Herrera

Meet Fernanda–an Alabama native, activist, DACA recipient, and Loyola University of Chicago law student–who has been a source of inspiration for many young immigrants. She is taking command of her own destiny: helping her family and community ensure the protection of their rights and safety.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Dr. Johana Oviedo

Through her work as an OB-GYN, Johana fights for basic rights and freedoms such as access to health care, the ability to parent with dignity, and the right to be safe and free. She ensures immigrant patients are properly accommodated when they come to her office so they don"t experience the same economic and social barriers to accessing health services that she saw growing up.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Lauryn Faungen

Lauryn Fanguen was born in Fez, Morocco to parents of Moroccan and Cameroonian ancestry. She and her family came to the Washington D.C. area when she was only three years old. Now a grown woman and immigrant "Dreamer"* who has lived around the nation"s capitol nearly her entire life, Lauryn"s experiences have informed her advocacy around the issues affecting the diverse American immigrant community.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Sarah Souza

Sarah and her family came to the U.S. from Brazil when she was a teenager, and she spent the remainder of her childhood undocumented in California. Now a Dreamer, Sarah has become a fierce leader at the forefront of social justice issues both at the local level in San Francisco and at the state level, where she fights for systemic changes on issues including housing, immigration, economic justice, and public education.

Read more of her Q&A here!

The post Immigration Activist Profile Series appeared first on Generation Progress.

(Use this link to read other profile’s like Johana’s)

Dr. Johana Oviedo

Johana Oviedo emigrated from Colombia to the U.S at a young age and grew up in a predominantly immigrant community in Miami, FL. She was undocumented for some time after she arrived, but, in time, was able to obtain citizenship. As she grew up, she recognized that her community lacked sufficient medical care and faced difficulty accessing medical resources due to low incomes, lack of insurance coverage, citizenship status, and language barriers. When Johana decided to pursue a career in medicine, she was motivated by her strong desire to help improve conditions for immigrant communities like the one she grew up in.

Reproductive Justice is a framework for discussion and advocacy that centers the right to have children, not have children, and/or parent the children we have in safe and healthy environments. Reproductive Justice is not limited to abortion–it extends past that to the right to self-determination more broadly.

Johana is now an Obstetrician-Gynecologist with a specialty in Family Planning. Through her work Johana fights for basic rights and freedoms, such as access to health care, the ability to parent with dignity, and the right to be safe and free–all of which are essential tenets of both immigration justice and reproductive justice. Johanna ensures immigrant patients are properly accommodated when they come to her office so they don"t experience the same economic and social barriers to accessing health services that she saw growing up. Johana is working to ensure everyone can access the care they need to lead healthy and prosperous lives.

We talked with Johana to learn more about why she is in the fight and what YOU can do to be a part of it. Check out her Q&A below:

When did you get involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, and why did you decide to go into the kind of work you are doing now?

I am an immigrant who feels incredibly grateful for the sacrifices my mother made for me and for the support I received growing up in America. I was born in Colombia, and my mom brought me to the United States when I was nine years old. She wanted me to have the opportunities she never had growing up poor in Colombia. She didn"t graduate high school. She wanted my life to be different. I know that we were undocumented for some time, but thankfully our status changed. Because of this, I was able to receive financial aid, graduate college, and become a doctor.

I always wanted to provide care to communities that resembled the one that I grew up in, and this continues to be a driving force in what I do. Medical encounters can be scary, but it is rewarding to speak to patients in their native language and to be able to empathize with their struggles.

I remember going with my grandmother to the doctor as a kid and being the interpreter during those encounters. I know that was not ok. When I have patients that speak other languages aside from English or Spanish, I make sure to wait for a phone interpreter no matter how long it takes. I refuse to use their partners, friends, or family members as interpreters. My patients should be able to have all their questions answered accurately. They deserve information.

What is particularly unique about the work you"re doing at your organization, and how does it reflect your values as a young person trying to affect change in immigration policy? What are you working on right now that the media is–or should be–paying attention to?

I am an Obstetrician-Gynecologist currently specializing in Family Planning, which includes a focus on contraception and abortion. I am also a fellow at Physicians for Reproductive Health, an organization of physicians who are advocating to improve access to comprehensive reproductive health care.

The majority of my patients are Latinx/Hispanic immigrants, underinsured/uninsured, and low income. I see firsthand the hoops they have to jump through to get the medical care they need. Undocumented immigrants often defer care because they fear jeopardizing their own and their family"s futures in this country. No one should forgo seeing a doctor because they are afraid. I wish all my patients had equal access to quality medical care regardless of their race, income, immigration status, but unfortunately that"s not always the case.

I also often see patients from countries in Latin America, where abortion is illegal. I am privileged to be able to provide my patients with abortion care. My patients know what is best for their lives and their families, and fortunately I can provide the care they deserve.

I recently had a patient seeking a medication abortion who came to our clinic with her adolescent daughter. My patient"s daughter kept asking me if this was legal, and if her mother would get in trouble. They had emigrated from a country where abortion is illegal without exceptions. I was able to explain to her that her mother had every right to have an abortion and that she could have a medication abortion. My patient and her daughter were relieved. A huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

What kind of future for immigrant communities are you working towards? How do you think the movement will help create a better future for immigrant communities? 

My hope is for a future in which all people, including immigrants, feel safe and empowered to live their healthiest lives. All people should be offered the full spectrum of health care choices, and being able to make decisions about whether or when to have children is a huge part of that. When people are denied health care, including reproductive health care, they suffer–and so do their families.

 Why should young adults, especially those who aren"t directly impacted by current immigration policies, get involved in the kind of work you are doing? 

When barriers stand in the way of comprehensive reproductive health care, individuals have greater difficulty in accomplishing their life and economic goals. This affects their communities at large. Young people should understand that barriers to reproductive health care affect all people, but people of color and poor people suffer most. It is the responsibility of all of us to stand up for what is right.

If you are an immigrant, how do you hope to see allies demonstrate support? If you are not an immigrant yourself, how do you demonstrate your solidarity with immigrants at this time in our country? 

As an immigrant, I feel that the most important thing allies can do is to speak openly and supportively of the immigrants who are important in their lives. Sharing stories about real people making strides for a better future– the families, the children, the ones working harder than you could ever imagine–can change minds. More Americans need to understand the concrete impact that immigration policy has on so many people in this country.

The post Immigration Profile Series: Dr. Johana Oviedo appeared first on Generation Progress.

This year"s State of the Union address will be delivered by a president who has been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. At this critical juncture, with the integrity of our democracy called into question, it is worth taking a step back to consider all that happened in 2019. 

Over the past year, we"ve seen the Trump administration continue to push an agenda that is deeply at odds with the values and priorities of young adults in this country–people who disproportionately struggle with student debt, gun violence, and our broken criminal justice system, and who are especially determined to address the climate crisis and reform our immigration system.

Thankfully, their agenda has not gone unchallenged. We"ve seen young people raising their voices–staging massive climate strikes across the country, protesting human rights abuses at the border, and rallying in support of impeachment. We also saw the youngest and most diverse freshman class of U.S. representatives in history take office after being elected, in part, as a result of a surge of young voters in 2018. Over the past year, leaders in the House of Representatives have managed to forcefully push back against the worst impulses of the Trump administration while advancing progressive policies with the potential to create massive change. It is important to note, however, that Senate leaders have obstructed nearly every bill the House has put forward, which has meant that many of these policies are–for now– unlikely to ever even be taken up for a vote. 

To get a better sense of where we are now and what we"ll need to build on in 2020, we"ve taken a closer look at the statuses of the issues that Generation Progress network members have been advocating on in recent years.

Democracy

In addition to conducting extensive impeachment hearings and voting to impeach President Trump, the House of Representatives introduced two bills designed to restore and protect voting rights for all Americans. HR-1 "For the People Act," introduced and passed in January of 2019, would prioritize voting rights and election integrity by expanding and improving access to the ballot box for the most marginalized communities, including young people. HR-4 "Voting Rights Advancement Act," passed in December of 2019, would restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ensured oversight of states and local governments that have a history of undermining voting rights, especially for communities of color. 

Gun Violence

Just one month after its historically young and diverse freshman class was sworn into office, the House of Representatives passed HR-8 "Bipartisan Background Checks Act," the first major gun violence prevention legislation passed in over two decades. Six months later, the House Judiciary Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Jerry Nadler, held a markup of three new gun violence prevention bills: an extreme risk protection order bill that would allow judges to issue an order to remove firearms from persons determined to be at risk of harming themselves or others, a bill that would outlaw large-capacity magazines, and a bill that would bar those convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime from owning a weapon. Despite the fact that there were 417 mass shootings and over 35,000 gun-related deaths in the United States in 2019, Senate leaders have refused to take up any bills related to gun violence, and have indicated that they will not cooperate on any gun violence prevention measures moving forward. 

Climate Change

From the devastating wildfires in Australia to the humanitarian disasters created by Hurricane Dorian, it"s clear that climate change is already impacting the lethality and intensity of extreme weather throughout the world. Despite these concrete examples and the findings of research released by the United Nations and others, Trump"s EPA continues to attack climate science and roll back important environmental protections, increasing air and water pollution. While Trump and his team deny climate change, the House is taking action–they introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act in November, which aims to help the country reach a 100 percent clean economy with net-zero emissions across all sectors of the economy by 2050. Young people have also continued to speak up, coordinating the Youth Climate Strike in March and the Global Climate Strike in September and demonstrating to the world that young people, and particularly young people of color, are passionate and influential leaders on this issue. 

Immigration

It may not come as a surprise that the Trump administration"s immigration policy in 2019 continued to prioritize cruelty for cruelty"s sake. Deaths in detention are at a historic high, but rather than address the gross mismanagement and human rights abuses occurring within those agencies, the Trump administration instead made drastic cuts to our legal immigration system– proposing higher fees for immigrants trying to renew their DACA status or applying to citizenship through naturalization; charging people to exercise their right to apply for asylum, effectively ending the asylum program and forcing tens of thousands of asylum seekers "˜remain" in dangerous and even deadly conditions in Mexico; and implementing "public charge" rules that would impose a wealth test that would drastically restrict legal immigration. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed HR-6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which represents the most broad effort to date to protect young undocumented immigrants without compromising their safety by giving additional funds to agencies like ICE and CBP. This year, advocates and activists will be looking to the Supreme Court, as it prepares to make a decision on whether protections for DACA recipients will remain in place after the Trump administration attempted to end the program. 

Student Debt 

As of February 2020, forty-three million Americans collectively owe $1.5 trillion in federal student loan debt. And young adults have a disproportionate share of this debt: roughly one-third of all people ages 25-34 have a student loan. Despite clear evidence that this crisis will only grow in severity, the Trump administration"s Department of Education, led by Betsy DeVos, continued to deny justice to cheated students and ignore the needs of future borrowers. A reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is also several years overdue–the House approved legislation on this front in 2019, but the Senate remains at an impasse on the package. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Generation Progress and the Center for American Progress released a report in June of 2019 that outlines six steps that policymakers can take to alleviate and eliminate the student loan debt crisis–and the issue has since become a major area of discussion in the presidential primary elections. 

Criminal Justice Reform

As of 2016, people ages 18-35 comprised more than fifty-five percent of all arrests, which is nearly double their percent of the population. Young men of color are overrepresented in that group, with Black men of these ages between seven and nine times more likely to end up in prison compared to their white peers. Recognizing the need for reform in the justice system, the House introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, expunge prior convictions, and use federal tax revenue from marijuana sales to reinvest in communities most harmed by the war on drugs. The House also introduced the Clean Slate Act, which would require automatic sealing of certain criminal records to remove barriers for people so they can find housing and employment after they have completed their sentences.

The post State of Our Union 2020 appeared first on Generation Progress.

(Use this link to read other profile’s like Fernanda’s)

Fernanda Herrera

Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Fernanda Herrera grew up fighting for her community in Gadsen, Alabama. Now a second-year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Fernanda has been a source of inspiration for many young immigrants and aspiring advocates who wish to define their own futures and fight for justice. 

Like many Dreamers, Fernanda came to the U.S. at a young age. Living in Alabama, Fernanda faced restrictive state laws that were designed to make immigrants like her feel unwelcome and to limit their potential. Alabama is one of only two states that bars undocumented students from enrolling in any state public university and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections are still prohibited from attending certain universities in the state.

However, Fernanda has never let these limitations stop her. With the support of her family and community, Fernanda completed her bachelor"s at Samford University. Now, she"s well on her way to earning a law degree, which she intends to use to fight for the legal rights of those in migrant detention. She is taking command of her own destiny: helping her family and community ensure the protection of their rights and safety. She is combating narratives that only "good" or "deserving" immigrants should be allowed to have safe and prosperous futures–futures that Fernanda believes all immigrant families deserve.

We talked with Fernanda to learn more about why she is in the fight and what YOU can do to be a part of it. Check out her Q&A below:

When did you get involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, and why did you decide to go into the kind of work you are doing now?

I got involved in 2015 when I was doing research through my school and an internship with the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ). That summer we went to the Ninth Circuit court to protest for DAPA/DACA+* and I helped the ACIJ organize a caravan of activists and community leaders to go.. Through my research, I learned that my experiences were very similar to those of many other people in Alabama and I set about searching for solutions to the issues that many of us faced through activism.

What is particularly unique about the work you"re doing at your organization, and how does it reflect your values as a young person trying to affect change in immigration policy? What are you working on right now that the media is–or should be–paying attention to?

Young activists are staying active in Alabama, where it is difficult to do so. I, however, am in Chicago working on my law degree so I am less involved with any one group and more focused on sharing my story individually. It is important to recognize that the meritocracy narrative that has been created in our communities by the media, which labels DACA recipients as “good immigrants,” is divisive. We do not need to be lawyers, doctors, nurses, or teachers to deserve to stay in our homes and earn a living. I am currently just working on living and getting through each day. I am working on making sure my family and friends know their rights and are prepared for the next raid in their area.

What kind of future for immigrant communities are you working towards? How do you think the movement will help create a better future for immigrant communities?

I am hopeful that our community will be more united in the coming months as we all join efforts to advocate for DACA*. Unfortunately, our recent meetings with members of Congress have made it clear that there will not be a solution for the entire immigrant community any time soon, but the more we keep sharing our stories, the easier it will be to make a case for change. I have become more focused on the crisis at the border and in detention centers lately, and am hopeful that there will be a new generation of attorneys dedicated to defending those in detention centers–I hope to be one of them.

Why should young adults, especially those who aren"t directly impacted by current immigration policies, get involved in the kind of work you are doing? 

It is important for society as a whole that we care about the world around us. Apathy simply makes the world colder and more lonely. I am not sure how one can be an American and not be utterly disgusted by the detention centers and family separation happening at the border. At the very least, becoming informed and sharing information with others is an easy way to get involved.

How do you hope to see allies demonstrate support? 

I hope to see allies learn about the history of the country and the role that the US has played in making our countries unlivable. I hope to see allies help pay for bonds, help pay lawyers fees, or–if they are lawyers–represent clients pro bono in their deportation cases. A few billable hours can make the difference between someone being home or someone sleeping in a cold cell with no food and no family support. It is not enough to change your Facebook profile picture or go to a march. A $5 donation to a bond crowdfund makes a huge difference.

(*)Glossary: 

DACA– Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, created in the Obama administration to protect young immigrants who entered the U.S. at a young age from the risk of being deported. The program also gives recipients a chance to work and go to school in the U.S. The Trump administration attempted to end the program in 2017, but ongoing lawsuits have kept DACA in-place. The Supreme Court is presently considering the case on DACA, with the court"s decision on the fate of the program expected in 2020.

DACA+-  An expansion to the DACA program introduced in 2014 by the Obama administration, nicknamed DACA+, that was intended to expand application  eligibility to more young immigrants who entered the U.S. as children. The program was challenged by a group of Republican state attorneys general and blocked in a federal district court. It was brought to the Supreme Court in 2015 in the U.S. v. Texas case, and a 4-4 split-decision in June 2016 left the program blocked and unimplemented.

DAPA-  Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program. Introduced by the Obama administration in 2014, it would have de-proioritized deportation for certain undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and parents of lawful permanent residents would grant them temporary permission to stay in the U.S. Along with the DACA+ program, DAPA was challenged and appealed in the Supreme Court in the U.S. v. Texas case, and was ultimately blocked and unimplemented due to the court"s 4-4 split decision in June 2016.

The post Immigration Profile Series: Fernanda Herrera appeared first on Generation Progress.

(Use this link to read other profile’s like Sandra’s)

Sandra Esther Avalos Ortega

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Sandra Esther Avalos Ortega came to the U.S. in 1996 at a young age. Even before she received protections through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals* (DACA) program, Sandra dedicated herself to empowering disadvantaged youth in her home city of Dallas, Texas. She entered the advocacy space to fight for the rights and safety of immigrant families like hers and to ensure that all people in the Lone Star State can live long, happy, and prosperous lives.

In border states like Texas, immigrants and their families are often the backbones of their communities, but they are frequently the targets of persecution by local politicians and police, making them feel unsafe. In response to this maltreatment, young immigrants and allies have formed local networks to defend immigrants" rights, meet the needs of their own communities, and join together against attacks on their well-being. In that spirit, Sandra joined a group of young immigrant activists in the Dallas area known as the North Texas Dream Team*. Today, as the group"s vice president, Sandra is helping lead their efforts to empower immigrant communities in the north Texas area–providing legal defense and financial assistance to those in need and holding state and local leaders accountable through mass mobilization.

Sandra is a Millennial and self-proclaimed powerful, unapologetic Latina who fights to empower her community–especially young immigrants. She"s also the proud mother of a ten-year-old daughter, Judith, who shares her mother"s activist spirit.

We talked with Sandra to learn more about why she is in the fight and what YOU can do to be a part of it. Check out her Q&A below:

When did you get involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, and why did you decide to go into the kind of work you are doing now? 

After fighting thyroid cancer and a deep depression that resulted from ending my marriage of nine years, I found the North Texas Dream Team. It changed my life forever. My first day of action was in Austin protesting against SB4*. We took over the capitol building and shut it down. I was accompanied by my daughter. It was the very first time I shouted, “Undocumented, Unafraid”, “Sin Papels, Sin Miedo.” I felt so empowered and finally ready to leave the shadows. From that moment, I was determined to empower others–to live life unafraid and help people understand that they are not alone.

What is particularly unique about the work you"re doing at your organization, and how does it reflect your values as a young person trying to affect change in immigration policy? 

I love having the opportunity to connect with others like myself who have DACA as well as people who are undocumented because I understand their uncertainty and frustration as well as their resilience and willingness to fight until the end.

What are you working on right now that the media is–or should be–paying attention to? 

We just concluded a march from New York to Washington D.C.  to spread awareness about the Supreme Court hearing that took place on November 12th. We want the nation to see us as humans and understand that all we want is dignity for all and the right to continue working and providing for our families in the place we call home.

What kind of future are you working towards for immigrant communities? How do you think the movement will help create that future? 

We are working not only for the right to work granted by DACA but also for the right to be here in the place we call home without the fear of deportation. That’s why we need a path that leads to citizenship. 

I believe in people power and the importance of empowering each other because no one knows what we need better than we do. So, by listening and supporting each other, we will not only get the equality we deserve but in the process, make our nation better.

Why should young adults, especially those who aren"t directly impacted by current immigration policies, get involved in the kind of work you are doing? 

We need allies who can vote and share our truth in spaces where we are not able to be present. And again, people power, which comes with numbers–we need you to show up and show out.

As an immigrant, how do you hope to see allies demonstrate support? 

First, I need my allies to tell our elected officials to support not only Dreamers but also the rest of my immigrant community, to fix our immigration system, and, more than anything, to abolish ICE, an agency that is only attacking and hurting our communities.  

Second, I need allies to stay informed and share the real truth about my immigrant community.  

Third, I need my allies to become active–volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. If you cannot, then donate, donate, donate, either to fund DACA renewals or to support organizations that are on the ground with the community doing the work.

(*)Glossary: 

DACA– Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, created in the Obama administration era to protect young immigrants who entered the U.S. at a young age from the risk of being deported. The program also gives recipients a chance to work and go to school in the U.S. 

SB4 – Texas Senate Bill 4 is a state law passed and signed during the 85thTexas Legislative session in 2017, intended to attack "sanctuary cities" and give local law enforcement agencies the authority to act as federal immigration officers. Though the courts blocked parts of the law as being unconstitutional, local TX officials are still allowed to inquire about a person"s immigration status during routine stops and share information with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

North Texas Dream Team -The North Texas Dream Team is a community-led nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the dreams and goals of students; to educate and bring awareness to everyone, regardless of color, when it comes to issues in our communities.

The post Immigration Profile Series: Sandra Avalos appeared first on Generation Progress.

There are local efforts to make college more affordable for these young immigrants who"ve grown up in our country, and who are American in every way but name. Several states allow for eligible, undocumented students and students under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to pay in-state tuition rates. Six states (California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Washington) have opened their state-based financial aid to these students. However, the fact that these students are ineligible for federal student aid is one of several factors that can present challenges for undocumented students to afford the full costs of attending college.

Below, we"ve highlighted a few scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate programs which undocumented and DACA students are eligible to apply for. Many organizations have resources to support these students: their own scholarship lists, info on how to navigate financial aid, or general tips and recommendations. We"ve included an aggregation of those resources at the end of this post. If you have questions, or simply a resource to add, please contact Christian Smith at csmith@americanprogress.org. For the previous version of this page, please click here.

Highlighted Undergraduate Scholarships and Programs

TheDream.Us

National Scholarship

Opens: November 1, 2018

Closes: February 28, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST
(The 2020-2021 Scholarship should open in November 2019)

Opportunity Scholarship

Opens: November 1, 2018

Closes: January 31, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST
(The 2020-2021 Scholarship should open in November 2019)

Description: TheDream.US is the nation"s largest college access and success program for DREAMers. TheDream.US scholarships are for highly motivated DREAMers who want nothing more than to get a college education, but are unable to afford the cost due to limited or no access to federal aid, limited access to state aid, and who, in certain states, face paying out-of-state tuition.

The National Scholarship is for high school or community college graduates. The Opportunity Scholarship is for students who live in targeted, locked-out states where they cannot get in-state tuition. Your eligibility for both is based upon where you live.

Union Plus Scholarship (2020)

Opens: Mid-June, 2019

Description: Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $4 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.

The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, supported in part by contributions from the provider of the Union Plus Credit Card. (You do not need to be a Union Plus Credit Card holder to apply for this scholarship.)

Current and retired members of participating unions, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations). At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant"s spouse or parent (if applicant is a dependent). The one year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31, 2017

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Program

2019 – 2020 Scholarship deadline: February 15, 2019 (CLOSED)

(The 2020-2021 Scholarship should open at the end of December 2019)

Description: The HSF Scholarship is designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage obtain a college degree. Scholarships are available, on a competitive basis, to high school seniors, undergraduate students (all years), community college students transferring to four year universities, and graduate students.

Migrant Farmworker Baccalaureate Scholarship

(Please visit the Geneseo Migrant Center website for updates to this scholarship, and to see other available scholarships)

Description: The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support to a deserving student with a history of migrating for employment in agriculture who has successfully completed one year of college. This support will cover expenses beyond what the youth is entitled to in federal/state and other scholarship assistance. This scholarship is designed to assist the youth in obtaining a baccalaureate degree without being encumbered with substantial debt. This scholarship is made available through a generous endowment from an anonymous, concerned individual for the education of children of migrant farmworkers.

Scholarship America"s Dream Award

Opens: (Get email notifications for application opening)

Description: The America"s Dream Award is offered to students who have completed at least their first year of college and who demonstrate a significant financial need. The scholarship is meant to ensure students have the financial assistance they may need in order to complete their degree.

The award is renewable and open to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and DACA recipients. Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, one full year of an associates or bachelors degree program by June 2020, and maintain a GPA average of  3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

Opens: January – March 31.

Closes: April 1

Description: The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement. The Fund has helped provide financial aid to students that are enrolled in college and involved in either social or economic activism.

Golden Door Scholar

Closes: September 16, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST

The Golden Door Scholarship is aimed at providing financial aid to DACA students, who have historically not been allowed federal financial aid and who are oftentimes charged international student tuition rates in certain states. Strong preference will be given to applicants who plan to concentrate their studies in career-ready (STEM) degrees.
Scholarship recipients will receive up to $40,000 in funding for a four-year degree at Golden Door partner schools beginning in the Fall semester. The scholarship is open to students attending non-partner schools on a case-by-case basis.

The Science Ambassador Scholarship (2020)

Opens: Fall 2019

Closes: December 2019

Description: The scholarship is a full"“tuition scholarship for a woman in science, technology, engineering, or math.

Funded by “Cards Against Humanity”, the scholarship awards up to four years of tuition to a woman seeking a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM). To apply, film a three"“minute video of yourself explaining a topic in STEM you are passionate about. You must be a high school senior or an undergraduate college student to apply.

The Point Foundation

Opens: November 1, 2019

Closes: January 30, 2020

Description: The point foundation is the largest scholarship-granting (in higher ed) organization for LGBTQ+ students. This scholarship is for those involved in the LGBTQ+ community. Factors considered to receive the scholarship include: leadership, academic achievement, financial need, personal goals AND involvement in the LGBTQ+ community. The foundation also pays close attention to students who have lost the support of their families/communities due to their sexual orientation. Students are matched with mentors and attend leadership development programs. The applicants also pledge to give back to the LGBTQ+ community by completing a community service project each year.

ReconoceR Scholarship Fund

Closes: April, 2019 (CLOSED)

Description: The ReconoceR Scholarship Fund objective is to provide higher-education opportunities for young Mexican and Central American migrants living in the United States in vulnerable conditions and who want to pursue studies at the Universidad de Monterrey, through a scholarship award and support to facilitate their stay in Mexico.

Please read the “Process” page for personal documentation submission procedures.

Highlighted Graduate Fellowships and Programs

McNair Scholars Program Funding Guide/Opportunities
(Note that not every opportunity is available to undocumented students)

Description: The McNair Scholars Program serves first-gen, underrepresented students in order to help prepare them for doctoral studies. This organization seeks to increase the amount of graduate degrees for underrepresented students.

Ford Foundation Fellowship Program (2020)

Opens: September 2019

2020 Dissertation and Postdoctoral application deadline: December 10, 2019 at 5:00 PM (EST)

2020 Predoctoral application deadline: December 17, 2019 at 5:00 PM (EST)

Supplementary Materials deadline for submitted applications: January 7, 2020 at 5:00 PM (EST)

Description: Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation"s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Predoctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on behalf of the Ford Foundation.

Eligibility is open to those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, political asylees, and refugees.

UCLA"s Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship

Description: This four-year fellowship program, funded by the University of California Office of the President, the UCLA Graduate Division, and the home department, supports a limited number of students who are entering PhD programs and are interested in a career in college or university teaching and research. The fellowship currently provides a stipend of $25,000 plus tuition and, for the first year only, nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary. Professional degree supplemental tuition, if the awardee is enrolled in a professional degree program, is not covered. Fellows may not be employed during the first year of this fellowship. During the student"s fourth year, the Graduate Division provides a second year of support at the same funding level. The student"s department is obligated to provide two or more years of equivalent support. Applicants must be nominated by their department/school. Students pursuing MD, DDS, or JD degrees are not eligible for this program.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students who qualify for nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions under AB 540 (eligibility for undocumented AB540 students is effective January 1, 2013). Individuals from cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education are especially encouraged to participate in the program.

UCLA"s Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program (GOFP)

Description: This one-year fellowship program provides recipients with a $20,000 stipend plus tuition (and nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary). Professional degree supplemental tuition, if the awardee is enrolled in a professional degree program, is not covered. Fellows may not be employed during the tenure of this fellowship. The program supports a limited number of entering students pursuing either terminal or professional master"s degrees. Students pursuing doctoral degrees (e.g., PhD, MD, DDS, etc.)  are not eligible for funding. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students who qualify for nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions under AB 540 (eligibility for undocumented AB540 students is effective January 1, 2013). Individuals from cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education are especially encouraged to apply.

Additional Resources 

Dreamer"s Roadmap

Scholarship List

Description: Through the DREAMer"s Roadmap app, prospective college students who do not possess residency or other legal status in the U.S. can safely navigate the financial aid options available to them so they can further their education.

Immigrants Rising (formerly Educators for Fair Consideration)

Scholarship Fund

Fellowships

Description: Formerly known as “Educators for Fair Consideration” (E4FC) until 2018, Immigrants Rising is an organization and network built around the purpose of providing educational resources, career training, mentorship, professional development, and advocacy for undocumented immigrant communities.

The Immigrants Rising"s Scholarship Fund (previously called New American Scholars Fund) provides financial awards to low-income immigrant college and graduate students who live and/or attend school in the San Francisco Bay Area. They provide scholarships of up to $7,000 to cover tuition and other expenses. Scholars are selected for their academic excellence, financial need, and community impact; they are also expected to maintain a minimum GPA (2.8 for college students and 3.0 for graduate students), and participate in ongoing E4FC programming, events, and activities throughout the year.

Immigrants Rising also offers various year-long fellowships for undocumented young people in the Bay area and nationwide.

Geneseo Migrant Center

Scholarship List

Description: The Geneseo Migrant Center administers a variety of scholarships to offer financial assistance to migrant students who want to further their education. Please note the annual deadline for each scholarship.

Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF)

MALDEF"s Scholarship Resource Guide for the 2018-2019 Academic Year (PDF)

Description: MALDEF is legal organization that advocates for the civil rights of Latinos in the United States. It publishes an extensive list of scholarships, including many that do not inquire about immigration status or require a valid social security number. Many scholarship awards can be processed with just the student"s name and address.

My Undocumented Life

Up-to-date information & resources for undocumented immigrants

Scholarships open to Undocumented Students (List)

Undergraduate Scholarships (List)

Graduate School Scholarships (List)

Description: My (Un)Documented Life offers a wide list of scholarships aimed to help undocumented students at different levels "“ in terms of demographic identity and education level. The resources can be organized by type and due date, and is a useful tool to find the scholarships that are right for you and your needs.

National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

Resources on Financial Aid & Scholarships for Students Regardless of Immigration Status (List)

Description: Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants.

The NILC publishes a comprehensive advocacy toolkit which includes a scholarship list, alongside information on state laws and tuition equity initiatives meant to make it easier for immigrants to go college.

Scholarship America

Scholarship List

Description: Founded in 1958, Scholarship America is now the nation"s largest nonprofit, private scholarship organization. Scholarship America works directly with students, parents, colleges, businesses and communities to help students fulfill their college dreams.

Scholarship America"s browser of scholarships allows you to search by state and and availability.

Scholarships A-Z

Scholarships A-Z"s Scholarship List

Description: Scholarships A-Z believes that all students can go to college, regardless of immigration status. Scholarships listed are organized by month and due date. Select the month you"re looking for on the top of the chart. Search for due dates, contact info, amounts, and requirements.

United We DREAM

U.W.D."s The DREAM Educational Empowerment Program (DEEP)

Description: DEEP educates, connects, and empowers immigrant students, parents and educators to close the opportunity gap and engage in local efforts to improve educational equity. (Scholarship list starts on page 4)

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