Prepare and Protect: Our Call to Action for the Next Four Years

The U.S. Congress is advancing legislation that will fast-track immigrant deportations. The Laken Riley Act would allow federal authorities to detain and deport undocumented immigrants charged with minor, nonviolent offenses like theft or burglary. While the bill’s language suggests a narrow focus on “criminals,” history tells a different chilling story. Time and time again, we’ve seen such policies used to justify the deportation of countless individuals, tearing families apart and undermining the fabric of our communities. During the Obama administration, for example, while criminals were also targets of deportation, only 20% of cases involved people convicted of crimes. In stark contrast, two-thirds of cases involved people with minor infractions, including traffic violations, or had no criminal record at all.

This pattern of maliciously and falsely linking immigrants to crime and using criminals as a pretext for broader deportation raids is a recurring stain on U.S. history. The Laken Riley Act threatens to add another dark chapter to that shameful record. Immigration raids force families to retreat into the shadows, where they live with constant fear and uncertainty. This pervasive fear strips individuals of confidence and stability, creating long-lasting and adverse effects on individuals, families, and communities. Parents and children alike live under the constant threat of potential separation, turning everyday routines into sources of anxiety. They fear losing everything at any moment, for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time or making the slightest mistake. Parents are going to work with the agonizing uncertainty of whether they will return home; children are going to school with the dread of finding an empty house upon their return.

Efforts are underway to educate immigrants about their rights, preparing them for what to do in case they face deportation. This includes recent guidance from the California Attorney General reminding immigrant communities of their rights to an attorney and access to services without fear of deportation. While Congress may ultimately remove or severely weaken individual due process, immigrant rights organizations across the country are hosting workshops to offer immigrants tools for protecting their rights.

More needs to be done.

At MAF, we encourage clients to take proactive steps to strengthen their immigration status as best they can. This sense of proactiveness and urgency inspired us to create the My Immigration Journey App (MIJA) — a powerful new tool to help individuals be more in control of their immigration journeys.  The U.S. immigration system is so complex and confusing that even discerning what’s available and what steps to take is incredibly difficult.

MIJA provides users with educational material to help them navigate the broken immigration system. Through the app, users can explore pathways to lawful status, create a personalized action plan, and track their progress along their immigration journey. For those unsure where to get started, MIJA’s AI chatbot provides clear information about what’s possible so that clients themselves can continue moving forward. The app also links clients to resources to help cover filing fees and remove high financial barriers along their journey.

With MIJA, individuals are taking proactive steps to prepare and protect themselves, fortifying their immigration status against potential deportation or other immigration challenges. By equipping users with knowledge and resources, MIJA is transforming what can feel like an insurmountable immigration system into one where personal agency and progress are possible.

This is hope in action.

MIJA is here to prepare and protect people during these uncertain times.