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Notes from the Team...
Dear Reader,
Last year required a lot of us. Thank you for your support and solidarity. Behind the scenes, our team has been building and strengthening our collective. We've been dreaming bigger about what support can look like for detained migrants and this year we are stepping into that growth.
At the same time, we understand the urgency hasn't gone anywhere. ICE continues to terrorize migrant communities nationwide. We stand in firm solidarity with those resisting this violence, including queer and trans organizers on the front lines. All of this reminds us that liberation has always been collective.
We're excited to share behind the scenes growth, updates and new programs shaped with care, intention and solidarity. This begins with the launch of a monthly newsletter.
Together, we move toward a freer, safer and more just world. And we cannot do it without you.
With love and solidarity,
The Migrant Support Collective
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Thank You OCAD!
We want to thank Organized Communities Against Deportation (OCAD) for generously providing resources to onboard paid staff and allowing us to move forward with new pilot programs!
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What's New?
Programs
Community Partnerships:
- MSC participated in the UChicago LGBTQ+ Career Fair
- Michelle spoke on the Immigrant Voices: Arts & Advocacy with the UChicago Center for Identity and Inclusion
Team Growth:
- Our lead volunteer team will now be full and part-time staff
- We now have four advisory committee members and six fundraising committee members
- Our volunteer team grew and spans globally as we have welcomed consultants, communications specialists, folks in data/tech, designers, translators, artists and more
News
Our hearts are heavy and saddened for the recent and sudden loss of Michael Caga-anan Aguhar, Program Director at Crossroads Fund. We stand in support and solidarity with Crossroads Funds, the communities he served and with his friends and family.
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Book of the Month
The Giver of Stars
(Te regalaré las estrellas)
Many detention centers require books to be shipped from Amazon or other major retailers, but if you find a detention center with more flexible rules, consider searching for your favorite local bookstore on Bookshop, or ordering from one of these places:
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*This book was requested from a detained individual via our Library Program.
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March 2026
- Envelope Stuffing Half Day. Date to be determined. We will need some help with stuffing envelopes with mental health support resources. If interested contact Beck, beck@migrantsupportcollective.org.
May 2026
- May 7 or 17 we will host an orientation for those interested in helping with our Pride in Migration Fundraiser in June.
June 2026
- Pride in Migration Fundraiser. We will be seeking volunteers to help with fundraising campaigns for the month of pride. A majority of the work will entail text banks.
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Join us. Donate. Share. Take Action.
Every bit of support matters. We invite you to be part of creating a world where migrants live free from the injustices of detention.
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Support the Collective
We cannot do this work without the support of advocates, ally's, community partners and volunteers like you. Here are ways you can support our mission:
- Help us with our Pride Month Fundraiser!
- Volunteer for upcoming events and special projects
- Share our organization in your communities, let's build together
- Donate to support the work
Only .1% of detained migrants are LGBTQ+ across the U.S., yet they account for 14% of MSC's participants (Feb. '26) |
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With Gratitude
Thank you again for being a part of Migrant Support Collective.
Whether through your time, dollars, energy, advocacy, or simply offering words of encouragement along the way, every contribution matters and we couldn't do it without you.
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In Solidarity,
The Migrant Support Collective Team
MSC was born out of the clear and urgent need we saw firsthand at the end of the last Trump presidency. This isn’t just about policy - detention puts people’s lives and wellbeing on the line. We’ve been here before, and the stakes have never felt higher. |
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