Greisa Martínez Rosas is an “unafraid” and “unashamed” immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as a child, and she brings that lived experience to her role at the helm of United We Dream. The largest youth-led immigrant network in the country, the organization has long been a prominent advocate for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a policy protecting undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers.” 

Last year, in response to heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, United We Dream launched the Defending Our Neighbors Fund. Created in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Abundant Futures Fund, it seeks to raise $30 million to provide legal support and other resources for immigrants across the county, with more than $14 million raised so far. The average donation is $30 and 70% of funding comes from individuals.

“My father was deported because we couldn’t afford a lawyer; that experience left me broken and showed me that the system is broken,” says Martínez Rosas. Many undocumented immigrants have no legal support while navigating a costly and complex process of hearings and applications. 

Martínez Rosas has emerged as a vocal thought leader, often drawing from her own personal background, including the deaths of both her parents. “That loss has made me as audacious as I can be, because there’s nothing that anyone can do to me that will hurt as much as that grief,” she says. But she’s heartened to know that “a [formerly] undocumented, poor, queer girl from Texas can be part of a social movement that mobilizes millions of dollars.”