The coronavirus pandemic has presented new challenges in our daily lives. We’ve had to make quick adjustments to the way we work, go to school, take care of our children, run errands, and everything else in-between.
The immigrant community is no exception. Many immigrants work in essential jobs that preclude them from working at home or sheltering in place. It hasn’t helped that the Trump Administration has used the pandemic to continue attacking and demonizing immigrants.
If you have the means to help others during this time of crisis, here are some ways you can help the immigrant community while staying at home:
Stop the racist rhetoric
President Trump and his Administration have used the coronavirus threat to blame and demonize immigrants. He has referred to the pandemic as “the Chinese virus” and has closed the southern border to asylum seekers as if they are to blame for what is going on. Immigrants are NOT a health threat and have nothing to do with the virus.
Help us stop the racist rhetoric by reminding everyone you know that the coronavirus is NOT an immigration issue. You can share our graphic on Facebook and Twitter.
Donate to the DACA Renewal Fund
While the future of DACA remains in limbo as we wait for a Supreme Court decision, current DACA recipients can still apply for a renewal.
DACA allows undocumented youth to work, go to school, and raise their families in the U.S. without the fear of deportation.
The coronavirus, however, is putting a financial strain on many DACA recipients, who may be out of jobs at a time when DACA fees have increased. USCIS, the office which administers DACA, has also closed due to coronavirus reasons, leaving uncertainty about how quickly renewal applications will be processed.
Help DACA recipients pay for their renewal fees by making a donation to the DACA Renewal Fund here.
Donate to Domestic Workers Coronavirus Care Fund
There are an estimated 2.5 million domestic workers across the country, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Many of these domestic workers don’t have adequate health care, sick days, or paid leave. They take care of our seniors, our children, and our homes. Some of them have already been let go due to coronavirus, and have no unemployment insurance or safety net. Others have been asked to work without any physical or financial safeguards to protect them and their families from getting sick.
Help give these domestic workers peace of mind by donating to the National Domestic Workers Alliance’s Coronavirus Care Fund. Your donation will provide them with financial support that lets them stay home and healthy.
Ensure everyone, regardless of immigration status has access to care
A new report by the New York Times reveals that many immigrants are scared of seeking medical care for coronavirus due to their status.
It doesn’t help that the Trump Administration has continued targeting the undocumented community in ICE raids in recent weeks — or that they’ve been pushing a “public charge” policy which penalizes immigrants for seeking services.
No one should ever be afraid to seek medical care. Ever.
Demand that the federal government allow everyone, regardless of immigration status, receive the coronavirus-related care they need to take care of themselves and their families. Sign the petition here.
Protect families in detention centers and refugee camps
Immigrants and their families currently waiting in detention centers and refugee camps along the southern border are facing a new set of challenges during the coronavirus pandemic.
With a decrease in access to basic medical care and detention centers struggling to meet basic hygiene standards, immigrants have become more vulnerable to illness than ever.
Help protect these families by making a donation here.
Fill out your 2020 Census
The 2020 Census is officially underway. Not only does the Census count the U.S. population — regardless of legal status — but the data collected is used to distribute billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities. The money goes toward schools, hospitals, roads, and other programs in our neighborhoods.
One thing we can all do from our homes today is to make sure that our families and households get counted. Fill out your Census today. Click here for all of the information you need.
Already filled out your Census? Encourage your friends and families to do the same or (remotely) help an elder in your community fill out theirs.
