History

United We Dream (UWD) emerged as a grassroots response organization, prioritizing and responding to the discriminatory exclusion that undocumented youth were facing in already existing immigration advocacy spaces. In 2007, undocumented youth gathered together to express their experience with systematic discrimination and marginalization, even when there were supposedly large immigration reform movements occurring. They spoke at a national conference and were silenced and censored, being placed in a “coat room,” which catalyzed the start of the organization. Rather than waiting for what could never be for the representation of undocumented youth, in 2008, the organization was created and operated under a fiscal sponsorship with the National Immigration Law Center. The monumental individuals who kickstarted UWD were Cristina Jimenez, Julieta Garibay, and Carlos Saavedra, all undocumented youth. 

Why was it created: United We Dream (UWD) was created to challenge injustices undocumented youth faced in daily life that were not touched upon by the larger immigration movements occurring, such as the threat of deportation, lack of a proper citizenship pathway, systematic marginalization towards their education, and social discrimination. 

Mission: The UWD’s mission is to fight for the rights and representation of undocumented youth and empower their local communities. 

Who they help: The UWD is one of the largest not-for-profit immigration organizations in the United States, with 1 million+ members, 100+ local groups, and a reach of over 5 million people every month. The members they primarily support are undocumented youth, commonly referred to as Dreamers, DACA recipients, immigrant families and mixed-status households, and other allies and advocates of their cause. The UWD’s reach is huge, operating in over 28 states in the country. 

The UWD combats hate through a multitude of ways. Most notably, the UWD advocates for reforms to policies and laws by pushing for policies like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which protect undocumented youth from being deported and removed, providing them with education opportunities and a pathway to permanent status. The UWD is currently pushing for a pathway for DACA recipients and continuous reform to policies that provide for these individuals. The UWD also has deportation defense and legal access for individuals affected by immigration policies, helping to fund legal representation for those who don’t have the resources to defend themselves in court, and providing legal counseling to those without it. 

The National Immigration Law Center was UWD’s early fiscal sponsor and still is an ongoing partner. UWD is also in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union to provide legal funding for immigrants and the Abundant Futures Fund for immigrant legal support. 

A key issue that UWD advocates for is a lack of permanent citizenship and residency pathways for DACA recipients and the undocumented youth. The DACA program provides temporary protection and relief, preventing deportation and detention of Dreamers and allowing them to work legally in the United States; it does not grant any pathway to citizenship or legal status. A result is that hundreds of thousands of individuals in the DACA program are on a timer and constantly live in uncertainty as to whether they will lose their temporary protection and lose their home. This is a huge problem that remains in the United States, even with such a pivotal change for immigrant civil rights, such as DACA. Many DACA recipients are brought when they are children, are given temporary relief, and are allowed to go to school, work, and pay taxes. Never once might they even know of their temporary status until it is too late and until their temporary relief runs out. There needs to be a pathway to citizenship that is clear to these individuals who are every bit American as the rest of America. 

Statistics:

1. Over 530,000+ individuals rely on DACA for legal protection

2. Each year, 98,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S high schools 

3. 500,000+ undocumented students are enrolled in higher education

4. Over 500,000+ families have at least one family member who is a DACA recipient

5. 81% of DACA recipients fear losing their temporary legal protection and access to healthcare if the program ends

Initiative: UWD is currently leading a DACA support and advocacy campaign in its ongoing support by providing resources and support to DACA recipients. The initiative is providing resources to individuals and also advocating and pressuring the government for policy changes and legal reform. UWD also provides legal help, information, resources, and support for renewal and pathways to citizenship for DACA recipients. The organization also pushes legislation such as the Dream and Promise Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and Dreamers.

The Dream and Promise Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for over 5 million people worldwide because DACA itself already provides support for over 800,000 individuals, added on the undocumented youth who are not DACA recipients. It would transform and change the lives of millions of undocumented immigrant families in the United States.