In the wake of the passing of H.R. 1 (a.k.a., the One Big Beautiful Bill), it has become devastatingly expensive for refugees and other immigrants to obtain legal permanent residency, which is the next step on their immigration journey after living in the United States for one year.
Some types of immigrants now face up to $2,500 per person in legal fees, medical exams, and filing costs just to apply for a green card — a document granting permanent residency on the way to citizenship. For a small family of four, that’s $10,000, and many of our newcomer families are larger than that, with little income to spare after supporting their families with day-to-day expenses.
At the same time, according to the new laws:
- SNAP benefits (food stamps) have been cut immediately for anyone without a green card;
- Medicaid will be canceled in October 2026 for those still waiting for their green card; and
- Any small legal infraction could now lead to a denied application and, therefore, deportation.
These aren't just policy changes — they're roadblocks to safety, stability, and belonging.
That’s why we’re launching Rooted for Good: A Campaign for Permanent Status — a $50,000 emergency increase to our Newcomer Assistance Fund to reduce these new financial barriers and help at least 30 of our neighbors who need to take this step immediately to stay on the path to permanent residency.
"How Can I Help?"
Donate Today
Your gift of any amount will be applied to the Neighbor to Neighbor Newcomer Assistance Fund and will go toward green card filing fees, legal fees, and civil surgeon exams for newcomers in the Michiana area.
Share & Expand the Reach
Repost N2N's social media posts, forward our emails to friends and family who might be interested, and/or share the Rooted for Good Campaign Info Sheet with prospective donors.
A green card is more than a document. It’s the key to healthcare, food, protection from immigration enforcement, and a FUTURE.
