Support Xochitl!

Xochitl and her family need our support! Xochitl was tragically hurt in a car accident earlier this week. She is in the hospital fighting for her life. Xochitl has spent her life supporting her children, grandchildren, and her community. Now we need to step up for Xochitl and her family during this difficult time.

Many people know Xochitl for her brave efforts to fight injustices against immigrants. She famously led a campaign (along with the ICE Out of LA Coalition) against LAPD's misguided collaborations with ICE, which led to her own arrest and countless others. Her efforts ultimately led to LAPD changing its policies to dramatically reduce its collaboration with ICE. For more about her arrest and LAPD advocacy, see: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidnoriega/the-lapd-says-it-wont-work-with-feds-on-deportations-but-it

Xochitl also served as the lead plaintiff in an ACLU lawsuit challenging the federal government's shameful and illegal practice of setting exorbitant immigration bonds. Xochitl had been incarcerated for six months on a $60,000 bond, well beyond what she and her family could afford. Xochitl was determined to ensure that no one else would have to suffer in detention simply because they could not afford a bond. Her lawsuit resulted in a first-of-its-kind federal court decision establishing that the Constitution does not permit the federal government to detain people merely because they are indigent. As a result of Xochitl's efforts, countless other immigrants have been freed from detention as a result of the case--Hernandez v. Lynch--that bears her name. For more about her case, see: https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-9th-circuit-immigrants-bonds-20171002-story.html

Xochitl is now facing the biggest fight of her life. Her family faces significant financial challenges from Xochitl's medical care and the loss of her support. She has been recently homeless and she and her family were already struggling to make ends meet before this tragic accident.

Xochitl has always been so strong, so full of joy and hopeful. She always prioritized her family's needs and supported them through it all. She is a loving mother, a best friend, a sister, a daughter, and is loved. She is a fighter, and now we need to step up for Xochitl and her family during this difficult time. Please consider donating anything you can!

Thanks, Michael Kaufman and Emi Maclean