We Stand with the Dreamers

Dear YLI friends and family,

It is with conflicted heart that I write you in response to the ongoing politics in Washington, D.C. as it relates to the 800,000 young people who are part of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The truth is, DACA impacts all of us, regardless of our immigration status. The undocumented youth who would benefit from a #cleanDreamAct are our children, our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and friends, our schoolmates and co-workers. Their lives are deeply woven into the fabric of our communities; their stories are our stories.The ongoing delay in Washington to meaningfully address our community members by giving them clarity and status is a failure of leadership in our government.

YLI stands unwaveringly on the side of our immigrant communities.

This position is a reflection of our core values — inclusion, social justice, community, and innovation — which we strive to live and breathe everyday through our work with youth and in all aspects of our organization. YLI works to ensure that those most impacted by inequities lead the change our communities need. As an organization committed to uplifting the voices of youth of color and their white allies, we will fight alongside our partners throughout the state and the nation to ensure that our young people are recognized for the role they play in their communities, and that their voices are heard. We will continue to operate our programs and build leaders today who will model functional governing, organizing, and responsible engagement with the diverse populations that are the very core of our country.

To the undocumented youth, please know: you are not alone. We know that this latest deal in Washington promises a vote on immigration policies nationally, and we are hopeful that a more permanent resolution will result from this agreement. We will be at the forefront of hope, demanding that our elected leaders in Congress and local communities create policies that protect you and enable you to continue on with your lives as we operate from a place of power, not panic.

As one of the young people involved in YLI has said: “There was life before DACA, and there will be life after DACA!”

Let us fight together to ensure all youth have a voice in our communities!

In Solidarity,

Jon Marker
CEO, Youth Leadership Institute

Important Resources
Please forward these to anyone who might need them!

• Marin: Canal Alliance
• SF: Centro Legal de La Raza
• San Mateo: Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto
• Central Valley: California Rural Legal Assistance Inc.,
• Nationwide: Immigration Advocates Network/Non-Profit Resource Center
• Asian Pacific Islander: API Legal Outreach
• Women and Children: Immigration Center for Women and Children
• Help with DACA renewal after the latest court decision: USCIS DACA Preliminary Injunction