#DefendDACA

While Trump's regime has been the nightmare scenario for immigrant and refugee rights, he had previously hinted at one small glimmer of humanity.

Back in June, he suggested he would "show great heart" by leaving protections in place for DREAMers who were brought to the US as children without documentation.

Nearly 800,000 DREAMers are protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Then, in late June, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and officials from 9 other states wrote a letter to Trump demanding he end DACA by September 5.

This week, the Trump Administration has been signaling it may do just that, as soon as today.  Sen. Dianne Feinstein said the move "would constitute an abject moral failure."

How to help defend DACA

For real-time updates on today's developments and how you can help, check DefendDACA.com (also known as WeAreHereToStay.org), follow the immigrant youth-led organization United We Dream on Twitter, and text the world DACACall to 877-877.

Call these elected officials and tell them to defend DACA and pass a clean DREAM Act.

Join massive protests on September 5 in front of the White House and at DHS/ICE offices across the United States.

For more background, read Vox's excellent explainer about the history and impact of the DACA program.

Connect with and support United We Dream, Define American, Reform Immigration for America, the National Immigration Law Center, and other groups advocating on behalf of DREAMers.

Update:  Immigrant rights groups are scrambling to help more than 150,000 people renew their current DACA status by October 5.  Many people can't quickly come up with the $495 renewal fee.  Donate to United We Dream's DACA Renewal Fund or to Mission Asset Fund's DACA Scholarship Fund.  Also, if you're a lawyer, consider volunteering with Lawyers for Good Government to help prepare DACA renewal applications.