“Immigrant detention facilities are not a safe environment for anyone, let alone families and children. People seeking asylum must be met with compassion, not placed in humiliating and dangerous conditions," said ASAP’s Conchita Cruz.

“As a child of immigrants and mother of two kids under four, I know how important it is to have access to early childhood resources,” said ASAP’s Co-ED. “Part of welcoming refugee mothers is making sure their children can thrive.”

“The Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act would allow asylum seekers to get work permits 30 days after applying for asylum, while minimizing the burden on employers during a historic labor shortage,” said Co-ED Swapna Reddy.

“I watched my parents orient family and friends, enrolling their kids in early childhood programs like Head Start, but not everyone has family here. My hope is ASAP can fill that gap for members,” said Co-ED Conchita Cruz.

“For ASAP, technology does more than touch the lives of individual asylum seekers - it taps the power of community to drive change at the systemic level,” said Fast Forward’s Shannon Farley in Forbes.

ASAP member Leticia Peren shares her story, after being forcefully separated from her son in 2017, and talks about the abuse she endured under U.S. custody.

“There are a lot of really great people who want to welcome immigrants… make them feel supported, help them become integrated into the life of our city,” said ASAP Community Resources Attorney Eric Pavri.

“We are raising our voices to seek justice,” said Leticia Peren, “so that the government will never again separate families trying to find safe haven and build a new life in the U.S.”