The Multi-Faith Immigration Coalition for Action (MICA) has established a program to help undocumented young people applying for legal status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The program provides financial assistance to help with costs of applying for DACA status or obtaining legal reviews of applications. More information about the program is available at the following web link: http://icir-clue.blogspot.com/p/d.html
The Social Justice Alliance is a part of the MICA team and invites ICCCC Congregations to consider supporting undocumented young people trying to navigate the immigration system toward citizenship.
The program is now up and running. We have received and approved two applications for assistance and we have two more young people in the process of applying. Several congregations have also collected money to help with the program.
- Can your congregation cover the estimated $400 or donate toward a share of one person’s path?
- Would your mission or justice committee – or any congregants – be interested in participating in “get acquainted” meetings with applicants? These meetings are intended to begin building a personal relationship between the applicants and the congregations and to find out if the applicants need any other type of help and support besides the financial help. We will be holding a short training session about DACA and the program for volunteers tentatively scheduled for the first week in February.
- A potluck get together with congregations and applicants is being planned for early March.
More information is available at the Social Justice Alliance. SOJA meets on the Second Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Library at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Michael Fischer at mfj1155@gmail.com or 925-212-9653. MICA is meetings are on the Second Thursdays at 7:00 pm at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church on Eckley Lane in Walnut Creek as well. All are welcome.
