Fernando Urbina

Fernando Urbina is a Harvard student and works as partnerships director at the nonprofit Immigrants Like Us.

MEXICO CITY — As the U.S. celebrates its independence, a nonprofit formed mainly by Harvard students is working to help those that would like to celebrate the Fourth of July as citizens or, at least, as authorized migrants. 

Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s bid to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. It offers protection from deportation to thousands of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. by their parents.

Fernando Urbina is a Harvard student and works as partnerships director at Immigrants Like Us, an online-based nonprofit focused on assessing DACA recipients and candidates. He explained their operations and assessment are held by 10 people, most of them Harvard students, IT experts and attorneys.

Urbina said their web-based service is able to help low-income immigrants.

“It’s important to remember that immigrants, low-income immigrants in particular, have been highly oppressed throughout our country’s history,” Urbina said. 

According to the student, their assessment increased after the court’s decision, helping over 100 people in two weeks.  

“Because we are an online platform, we’re able to help a larger number of people all at once,” said Urbina.

Immigrants Like Us recently launched a DACA online guide as they expand across the country.