Dear ,

At the Immigrant Defense Project (IDP), we believe that no one is disposable and that every person deserves to live with dignity, safety, and freedom. Together, we have fought to protect these core values for nearly 30 years, building a powerful community of defense against unjust and dehumanizing immigration policies. Today, we need your support more than ever.

Donald Trump’s re-election has set the stage for an unprecedented escalation of mass deportations. His administration is promising to intensify the very same tactics that tore loved ones apart and devastated communities during his first term. But we are ready to respond with a mass defense—a united, resilient effort to protect our communities from these threats. We know that when we come together, we can push back against hate and fear and build a future rooted in justice and humanity.

A New Threat of Mass Deportations: We Must Act Now

As we approach 2025, the stakes for our community could not be higher. Anti-immigrant rhetoric is intensifying, and policymakers are poised to escalate mass deportation efforts that will devastate communities across the country. People seeking safety are being targeted, scapegoated, and criminalized by a system that conflates immigration status with criminality. If left unchecked, these actions will tear loved ones apart and leave countless individuals without a path to safety or justice.

We know the harms this system inflicts, and we cannot allow history to repeat itself. We must stand together to confront these threats with the same resilience and innovation that have characterized IDP’s work for decades.

IDP’s Proven Success: Winning Legal Protections for Immigrants

In the face of hostile policies, IDP has continually found ways to protect immigrant communities. We have successfully challenged attempts to expand deportation grounds through strategic litigation, secured sanctuary protections in New York, and provided individualized advice and relief strategies to tens of thousands of criminalized immigrants. Our victories, like limiting the retroactive application of harsh deportation laws, have set crucial legal precedents that will be key to defending the rights of immigrants in the year ahead.

We have seen firsthand the power of our multipronged strategy: combining legal advice, community defense, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and narrative change. This approach has proven effective in shifting the landscape, both legally and culturally, towards justice for immigrants.

Our Plan for 2025: A Bold, United Defense Against Escalating Attacks

Hotline. Our hotline provides advice to immigrants and attorneys, helping loved ones make informed decisions to stay together. It also offers vital on the ground information that informs our community education, strategic litigation, and policy work.

Community Education. We will update our actionable Know-Your-Rights (KYR) materials, which are based on years of studying ICE tactics and listening to impacted immigrants. We will train advocates to use our resources to empower immigrants with the knowledge they need to protect themselves.

Strategic Litigation. We will continue to lead groundbreaking litigation, challenging unjust laws that harm immigrants. By intervening in key cases, we will limit the reach of punitive immigration laws and secure legal protections for immigrant communities.

Policy Advocacy. We will advance stronger sanctuary protections, support clemency efforts, and defend non-citizens’ rights in the criminal legal system. Working in coalition with grassroots partners, we will push for systemic change to end perpetual punishment and protect immigrant rights.

Early Intervention. IDP will partner with criminal defense attorneys to prevent deportations before they start. By advising public defenders in New York City and beyond, we will ensure that criminalized immigrants receive robust legal support.

Countering Harmful Narratives. We will expand the community of allies who are challenging dehumanizing language and narratives that fuel anti-immigrant policies. By amplifying the stories of directly impacted individuals, we can shift public discourse and counter the dangerous myths that underpin mass deportation efforts.

Help Us Raise $50,000 by December 31

This moment calls for a powerful, collective response. To help us meet this challenge, a longtime supporter of IDP has pledged to match every dollar we raise by December 31, 2024, up to $50,000. Your donation today will go twice as far, strengthening our ability to protect immigrant communities and push back against mass deportation efforts. Please give as generously as you can. Your contribution will help us stand strong in defense of dignity, justice, and the belief that every person deserves to belong.

In solidarity and with deep appreciation,

Marie Mark, Executive Director

And Team IDP

P.S. Your gift today can be doubled. A longtime IDP supporter has pledged to match every donation up to $50,000, doubling the impact of your contribution. This matching pledge is a call to action from a dedicated member of our community. Will you join us in meeting this urgent need?