LGBT Movement Comes Together to Help Dreamers

Undocumented young immigrants seeking a work permit under President Obama’s new “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals“ (DACA) program have to pay nearly $470 in application fees. Considering that most “Dreamers” cannot obtain lawful employment, that’s asking a lot.

Now, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organizations and movement leaders have stepped in to help. They have created a fund that has so far raised more than $75,000 to help LGBT undocumented immigrants pay for their work-permit applications.

As of Friday, September 21, the LGBT Dreamers Fund is open and eligible participants may now apply for a financial assistance scholarship.

Forty-six organizations have added their support to the LGBT Dreamers Fund, which was launched with a challenge grant from the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. The Dreamer Fund organizers are still accepting contributions from organizations and individuals. The goal is to collect $100,000 so the Fund can provide assistance to more than 200 LGBT Dreamers who qualify for the temporary work permits.

“The list of supporters, which represents the breadth and depth of the organized LGBT movement, is an extraordinary show of support for the immigration rights movement generally and for Dreamers specifically,” said Matt Foreman, director of the gay and immigrant rights programs with the Haas, Jr. Fund.