Support Black Immigrants Resource List

As an immigration legal services organization, we at Santa Fe Dreamers Project recognize that Black immigrant experiences are often invisibilized within the larger immigration justice movement, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of racist immigration enforcement tactics as well as the economic and health impacts of COVID-19.

At Santa Fe Dreamers Project, we want to use our social media platform to center Black-led organizations that directly support Black immigrants, particularly within the context of the economic difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve compiled a resource list featuring funds and campaigns facilitated by Haitian Bridge Alliance, ABISA, African Communities Together, UndocuBlack Network, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), Black LGBTQ Migrant Project - BLMP, and the Cameroon American Council. Haitian Bridge Alliance, ABISA, African Communities Together, UndocuBlack Network, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Black LGBTQ Migrant Project - BLMP, and the Cameroon American Council. Please read through this list to learn more about these incredible organizations, follow them on social media, and support their work by donating to these funds and participating in their calls to action. #BlackImmigrantLivesMatter

BLACK IMMIGRANTS’ BAIL FUND

  • “Black Immigrants Bail Fund is a National project of the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) and African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs (ABISA) with support of other Black led organizations  that provides free assistance and relief to black immigrants in pursuit of Liberation and Justice. Our commitment is to eradicate the mass incarceration of black immigrants and level the playing field of equity in due process; transforming one life at a time.”
  • Haitian Bridge Alliance - “Our goal is to work to develop a self-sufficient community of Haitian immigrants in California and beyond. Our vision is not myopic but rather broad enough to believe in a Haitian community in California that is strong at its foundation so that it doesn't crumble when crisis hits.” … “Haitian Bridge Alliance, also known as the ‘The Bridge,’ is a San Diego based coalition of organizations and community activists, who have come together to serve Haitian and black immigrant communities in the borderlands, California, and beyond. Though board members are in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, they are also represented across the United States.”
  • African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs - “ABISA, African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission of promoting social and economic justice, civic participation, and empowerment of African immigrants and refugees. ABISA focuses on centering Black/African immigrants experiences and narratives.”

African Communities Together - “African Communities Together is an organization of African immigrants fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for our families here in the U.S. and worldwide. ACT empowers African immigrants to integrate socially, get ahead economically, and engage civically. We connect African immigrants to critical services, help Africans develop as leaders, and organize our communities on the issues that matter.”

  • Currently no specific donation fund beyond general donations
  • Sign the petition: Urge Congress to provide Temporary Protected Status holders with permanent protections amidst the COVID-19 crisis - “Over 131,000 TPS holders are risking their lives as essential health care professionals, meat packaging and food processing workers, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, service industry staff, and more. Not only are TPS holders risking their lives, they risk exposing their family members in order to ensure essential services are continuing in communities across the country. They have our back, now it’s time for Congress to show up for them. We must protect TPS holders from deportation and provide a pathway to permanent residency.  As Congress is preparing to pass another stimulus package, we must ensure they provide protections for TPS holders and DACA recipients. We demand that Congress extend the status of all TPS holders and extend the validity of employment authorization documents for TPS holders and DACA recipients for at least two years, guarantee direct cash assistance and economic relief for all families and workers, and provide language access and medical care regardless of status.”
  • Participating orgs: Adhikaar, African Communities Together, American Friends Service Committee, Alianza Americas, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, CASA, Daily Kos, Family Action Network Movement, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, National TPS Alliance, UndocuBlack Network

UndocuBlack Network - “A first-of-its kind space for black undocumented folks to heal, organize and be empowered by each other. The Convening will create a safe space for black undocumented folks to develop acceptance, to own their stories and be active in creating change for our communities. It is not being organized by any single organization, but is the work of black undocumented immigrants who feel and experience the urgency of addressing issues, such as police brutality and mass deportations, yet believe both movements fighting these issues are working in silos.

  • COVID-19 Fund - “Black, undocumented immigrants are dying and we need your help. A higher percentage of us are on the front lines - while being paid less AND with fewer (if any) health benefits. And that’s if we’re allowed to work at all, thanks to the Trump administration’s efforts to make work permits difficult to obtain and renew. We’re also overwhelmingly women, often serving as caregivers to young children or older parents. No elder care is provided. No childcare is provided. We know that this crisis feels overwhelming, but you CAN be part of a positive change. Our mission in this moment is to help our community survive by providing emergency financial and informational resources. If you are able to donate, please do so, We can and will get through this together.”

Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) - “The mission of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration is to engage African Americans and other communities in a dialogue that leads to actions that challenge U.S. immigration policy and the underlying issues of race, racism and economic inequity that frame it. BAJI’s goal is to develop a core group of African Americans who are prepared to actively support immigrant rights and to build coalitions with immigrant communities and immigrant rights organizations to further the mutual cause of economic and social justice for all.”

  • Black Migrants Journeying to the U.S.-Mexico Border Fund - “BAJI is committed to helping our brothers and sisters in Mexico and has launched the Black Migrants Journeying to the U.S. - Mexico Border fund to support this work. We’ve only begun to touch the surface, and need supporters like you to help us continue to uplift Black migrants fleeing persecution in their home countries. Black migrants need us. Our goal is to fundraise $50,000 that will help hundreds of families by providing relief, stability, security, and meet their basic needs. Funds will go directly towards meals, drinks, sleeping tents, hygiene products, translators, and accessible and affordable legal services to continue their journey to the border.”
  • BAJI National COVID 19 Mutual Aid Relief Fund - “Black immigrants in the United States are particularly and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We are concentrated in the service industry as health care workers; domestic workers; grocery store workers; airport workers; delivery and ride share  and restaurant workers. The majority of these workers are being required to work in dangerous conditions. Others are being laid off as a result of emergency orders and restrictions in response to Covid-19. Those Black immigrants required to work are in desperate need of masks and other PPE. Those who have been laid off are in desperate need of cash assistance and food/housing support. Affected workers include informal workers, especially undocumented workers who have little to no protections. Further, as calls to release detained immigrants are answered, those released face poverty and uncertainty, including housing and food insecurity. Black immigrants find themselves in a crisis that BAJI is committed to addressing in partnership with our communities through our national mutual aid efforts. When you support BAJI's National COVID-19 Mutual Relief Fund, you support BAJI's work to provide direct cash assistance, food distribution, and other critically-needed resources to our community members during this pandemic.”

Black LGBTQ Migrant Project (BLMP) - “The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) uses leadership development, capacity building, and organizing to address the ways in which Black LGBTQIA+ migrants are targeted by the criminal law and immigration enforcement system, and marginalized in the broader migrant community and racial and economic justice movements. BLMP aims to reduce isolation, build leadership, and protect and defend Black LGBTQIA+ migrants from increasing attack through community-building events around the country, providing legal support, increasing access to services, creating regional organizing networks, and launching the 1st ever survey focused on our experiences.”

  • Cash Assistance Fund - “BLMP is providing cash assistance to Black LGBTQ+ migrants and first generation people dealing with the impact of COVID-19. Click ‘Donate to BLMP’ to the right to support this work.”
  • Black Trans Migrants Matter: #FreeSzaSza Campaign - “Sza Sza Codner is a Jamaican trans woman and asylum seeker who has been detained for several years in immigration prison. Currently, Sza Sza is detained at Aurora Contract Detention Facility where others have tested positive for COVID-19. Despite the fact that they cannot prevent the spread of COVID-10 in these facilities, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) still chooses not to release Sza Sza. Because of anti-Black racism, Black migrants in detention tend to be detained longer, be put in solitary confinement more frequently, be forced to pay the highest bond amounts to get out of immigrant prison, and experience other forms of targeting. Black asylum seekers like Sza Sza who have fled near deadly persecution are often denied asylum by immigrant judges which means being detained for longer periods of time while they appeal their cases and/or face deportation back to places they fled in the first place. We urge you to help end Sza Sza’s indefinite detention and make it possible for her to live the life of dignity and safety she deserves.”

Cameroon American Council - “The Cameroon American Council strives to build the capacity, visibility and relevance of the Cameroonian/African community in the United States.”

  • Social media toolkit for Freedom Fridays - Every Friday, the Cameroon American Council hosts a social media action titled Freedom Friday under the hashtag #FreeTheJuneteenthCameroonians. This has primarily focused on email and phone banking to get elected officials to focus their attention towards the release of Cameroonians held in detention. Join them in making calls or writing emails on Fridays.
  • Juneteenth Commissary Fundraiser #FreeThemAll - “Cameroon American Council: While we work to #FreeThemAll from immigration jail, the immigrants detained in Pine Prairie, Louisiana are suffering. Donate to this commissary fundraiser in honor of #FreedomFriday on Juneteenth! Help them get just a little bit of extra food or phone minutes while they continue to fight their cases and demand their freedom.”