Defending Our Neighbors Fund is a bold new initiative that’s providing emergency response grants to legal organizations protecting immigrant families.

This coalition between United We Dream (UWD), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Abundant Futures Fund (AFF) will ensure those facing the threat of separation and wrongful detention and deportations have access to the legal support they deserve.

Already, the fund has raised over $10M towards its $30M goal to provide emergency response funding to trusted organizations providing legal assistance to communities in need. Many of these organizations were deeply impacted after federal funding was slashed earlier this year, and are now facing unprecedented demand as federal raids continue to detain and deport people perceived to be immigrants. This is no coincidence; it’s part of a tactical strategy in the government’s war waged against immigrant rights, and these organizations are doing everything they can–and deserve support.

There are more than 6 million U.S. households that have a family member at risk of detention or deportation. Studies show that in 2024, there were more than 2.5 million cases in immigration court where people did not have legal representation. Having access to a lawyer is often the difference between a family staying together or being separated indefinitely. We must come together to protect our family, our children, our friends, our neighbors, at such a critical moment.

Read how the fund is already providing critical infrastructure to local organizations:

“Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center has spent decades providing legal services to low-income immigrants in El Paso, Texas and across the border region. The team, now under 20 staff members, works primarily on removal defense – helping people navigate complex deportation proceedings and access their rights in detention.

As hostility towards immigration groups continues, Las Americas lost major funding and faced difficult layoffs. Support from the Defending Our Neighbors Fund arrived at a critical moment. It helped us avoid deeper cuts, keep experienced staff on board, and respond quickly to urgent cases, including access to people detailed at new sites like Camp East Montana at Ft. Bliss.”

– Marisa Limón Garza, Executive Director, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center

“In March, we faced a comprehensive attack on immigrant children when legal lifelines were eliminated. In a single week, the government abruptly shut down funding for lawyers for unaccompanied children and placed children on “rocket dockets” where toddlers to pre-teens were forced to appear alone in court on an unprecedented, expedited timeline. With no notice, we were forced to halt representation for hundreds of children who depend on our advocacy. We were faced with the impossible choice of continuing to represent our clients without funding or abruptly withdrawing representation, leaving our clients vulnerable to further harm, exploitation and trafficking.

Funding from the Defending Our Neighbors Fund was a lifeline for our clients, our staff, and the organization. It enabled us to find a path forward which included meeting the needs of our young clients and upholding our ethical duties as lawyers.”

–Chiqui Sanchez Kennedy, Executive Director, Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project

“For nearly 30 years, the Tahirih Justice Center has provided free legal and social services to over 36,000 immigrant survivors of gender-based violence -- people navigating abuse, trauma, and an increasingly hostile immigration system. Tahirih operates a centralized helpline that offers immediate safety planning, legal advice, and support to survivors.

In 2025, calls for help have doubled.

Support from the Defending Our Neighbors Fund has helped Tahirih retain critical staff, such as attorneys and impact litigators, at a time where survivors face growing fear in seeking help or accessing services.”

– Archi Pyati, Chief Executive Officer, Tahirih Justice Center

The Defending Our Neighbors Fund will need supporters at every stage to help continue its work. You can play a vital role in raising awareness for the Fund by: 

Regardless of your immigration status, you have rights under the Constitution. Learn more about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.

This video shows how politicians, corporations, and private prison companies keep immigration laws intentionally dysfunctional to divide working people and maintain control.

Here’s a city-by-city breakdown of Trump’s immigration raids and troop deployments. The Trump administration has deployed federal troops into four cities, and there are no signs of a slowdown. Capital B News >

Deported after reporting sexual assault: A Florida worker’s fight for justice. Jennyfer told police that her manager assaulted her. Within weeks of reporting, she was charged with a DUI and deported to Nicaragua. Prism >

Farmworkers already face harsh conditions. Now they may have to deal with a pay cut. Hard-line immigration policy, climate change, and labor shortages are colliding to create a real problem for U.S. farms. Grist >

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