Support Shongi's Path to Permanent Residency

Howdy, my name is Shongi and I’m in need of communal support to raise enough money to apply as quickly as I can for my permanent resident card and for my DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) renewal.

I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and was brought to America with my parents when I was about a 1 year old. Although my parents were able to come to America legally on a student and spouse of the student visa, there was not a visa category for “child of the spouse of the student” visa in 1997. Those laws have changed after I was already in America making me undocumented. I hadn’t known about this status until I was 16 and tried to apply for a job and get my drivers license like any of my peers would. Luckily, Obama had created the DACA program for other children like myself to be able to get a work permit and be protected from deportation as long as I don't commit any crime for up to two years at a time.

I have been living in Washington state for the last decade now and have been working with local farms, started my own business selling natural herbal skin care this last year, and hoping to grow in my education of holistic herbalism and message therapy while living in the Washington peninsula.

I am asking any friends, family, community members or anyone affected by this issue to help me raise enough money before the transition of power of the government who has been very vocal about their disdain for immigrants such as myself and others in similar situations. After 2016, the president elect had cancelled the DACA program only to have the supreme court keep the program running. I fear that this time, having most of the supreme court be his own appointed members, I wont have the same luxury.

This is why I am needing to apply for my permanent resident card from the USA. I have had to wait until my younger brother, an American citizen, could be old enough to apply for me to stay in the USA and finally have a pathway to citizenship. After being in the US for 27 years of my life, and having no memory or ability to safely visit my home country, this would be a great relief and opportunity. Being undocumented has limited my ability to receive loans, licenses, insurance, travel, and soon will impact my ability to fly within the US. Being that my family all lives in Texas, this is a great fear and concern of mine.

I have an appointment to meet with an immigration lawyer thanks to a local organization who work with immigrants such as myself in early December to work on my case and go over the application. My work permit will expire in December, so I will not be able to work legally until the application is sent in and am offered an extension to get back to work. I am hoping after this counsel and raising enough funds, I will be able to send in my long awaited application to USCIS before the end of the year and mainly January 20, 2025 when the new administration begins their sweeps. My hope is after I get my permanent residency I wont have to pay the government $500 every two years just to allow me to work for them and simply be in the community. This is the only home I've ever known, and I'd like to continue to grow with it.

I would appreciate any and all support and prayers you can send my way!

-With warmth and gratitude

Shongi Motsi