A Call for Mutual Aid to Support Political Migrants in the US

In recent weeks, certain states the US have witnessed a concerning reduction in rights, particularly affecting the LGBTQ+ community. From losing access to healthcare to even the state taking their children.

Families with trans children in Florida, Texas, and Utah have to leave their states in order to maintain medical rights or even retain custody of their kids. In order to directly assist those in need we have to organize our communities.

These families will need support in relocating quickly to safe states.

The rapidly developing assault on human rights requires any of us who live in these safe states to provide support for those that are looking to relocate. There is an active need for both mutual aid and community support to help resettle these migrants in these safe states. By organizing with your neighbors and local community, it is possible to create a local network of assistance for those affected. Here are the best ways to organize mutual aid for this crisis. Start with existing Mutual Aid groups in your area, and if none exist now is a good time to start one.

Moving Costs: Raise funds to cover moving expenses such as plane / bus / train tickets, moving trucks, storage costs, or organize volunteers to assist with transporting personal belongings and persons. This will allow families to move quickly and escape unsafe circumstances now.

Temporary Housing Options: Once arriving in a new city immediate concerns for migrants is finding a safe place to stay. By rallying community support, it is possible to offer temporary housing options. From spare rooms, garage conversions into living spaces, converted tough sheds, community centers, churches, school gyms, or even a pull-out couch in a living room can provide a place to stay for those in need. This ensures that individuals have a stable and safe environment from which they work to get settled.

Long-Term Housing: To address the need for stable, long-term housing, collaboration with local housing trusts or the establishment of new ones can play a vital role. Identifying vacant and low cost housing in your community, and converting long vacant properties such as office or retail to housing.

Paperwork: Once settled help with paperwork is needed such as school registrations for children, forwarding mail, applying for new driver's licenses & state IDs, activating utilities, applying for housing vouchers, and providing support for applications to first-time homebuyer programs or mortgages, can significantly ease the transition.

Basic Necessities: Assisting political migrants with securing essential items is another crucial aspect of mutual aid. Both local organizations and individuals can help provide furniture, clothing, housewares, decor, food, bicycles, cars, and toys. By pooling resources and engaging in donation drives, the community can ensure that individuals have the necessary means to rebuild their lives and regain their independence.

Employment and Education: Helping migrants gain new employment and education will help create long term stability. Focus on helping individuals secure local jobs, join local trade unions (for skilled workers), getting set up with job training programs or low cost education opportunities if available. Furthermore, fostering opportunities for migrants to start new local businesses, such as baking, meal preparation, cleaning, or childcare services can empower them to create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and contribute to their new communities.

Expanding the Circle of Support: While these efforts primarily focus on political migrants, it is important to recognize that similar assistance can be extended to refugees and asylum seekers, new residents, recent graduates, the jobless, and the homeless in our communities. Mutual aid should not be limited to specific circumstances but should be an inclusive and comprehensive endeavor to uplift all individuals in need.

In the face of diminishing rights and oppressive environments in certain U.S. states, organizing mutual aid and community support becomes an essential tool for empowering all of us together. It is through these collective acts of kindness and resilience that we can build a more inclusive and equitable society for all.