@afuashley.bsky.social
Executive Director of AmericanFamiliesUnited.org. Jersey girl. Blessed mom and devoted wife. Proud Catholic. ✝️ Small business owner. Believer in the sacred bond of family and the power of everyday Americans to create extraordinary change. 🇺🇸
New research from CLASP & Univ. of Colorado finds increased immigration enforcement is pushing U.S.-born teens in mixed-status families to work more & enroll in school full-time less. Enforcement policies don’t just affect immigrants; they reshape outcomes for American children.
28.02.2026 00:54 — 👍 183 🔁 78 💬 1 📌 2
Amanda is a Republican, a nurse, and a mom of eight. She tried to do everything right, but still ICE deported her husband anyway. Read her story below @fams2gether.bsky.social
www.jacksonville.com/story/opinio...
American Families United Responds to Proposed HUD Rule on Mixed-Status Households:
This Rule Doesn't Just Target Immigrants, It Targets American Families.
Link: buff.ly/3tfX5vv
AFU Action is making moves in DC, but our travel fund is low. We need your help to keep bringing working-class families to the table with policymakers.
Support our mission and donate today to keep the momentum going!
bit.ly/afuaction
Valentine's Day hits different for US citizens in mixed-status marriages whose loved one could be disappeared by ICE at any time. We hope that more Americans will understand the love that motivates us to fight for our families, then join us in solidarity. #valentinesday
10.02.2026 20:47 — 👍 4 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Watch the full press conference on YouTube at bit.ly/salazarpressconference.
Get a copy of the report titled “Collateral Damage: How Immigration Policy Harms U.S. Citizens in Mixed-Status Marriages” at americanfamiliesunited.org.
“It is imperative now, given what is happening within our industry and many others, that Congress redouble its efforts to move forward and pass legislation on this issue. We want to reiterate our support for the Dignity Act.”
Duane Musser
National Roofing Contractors Association
“As evangelicals today, we hold a belief in the sanctity of families, which is why it's unacceptable to us that American families can be ripped apart simply because one parent is an immigrant.”
Rylee Lacy
National Association of Evangelicals
“We often talk about bringing immigrants out of the shadows, but this report brings American citizens in mixed-status marriages out of the shadows to show the hardships they face.”
Austin Kocher
Report Author
“The Dignity Act secures the border, targets, prioritizes the worst of the worst, and it provides a path to legal status and work permits for people who have been here many for decades in mixed-status families working and paying taxes.”
Rebecca Shi,
CEO, ABIC Action
“When my husband was deported, we lost everything: our business, our income, our home, and our unified family. I can't make sense of why my country would want to separate my family. Who wins with my broken family living a continent apart?”
Amanda Ribeiro
U.S. Citizen
“Despite their numbers, mixed-status couples remain one of the most invisible groups in the immigration debate. This is not about politics, it's about people — and whether we choose solutions that reflect the values this nation holds.”
Ashley DeAzevedo
American Families United
“I am proud to stand with American Families United to defend U.S. citizens whose families are being torn apart by the current immigration system. U.S. citizens and their families belong together. The Dignity Act would fix this problem.”
Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL-27)
On Capitol Hill this week, Rep. María Elvira Salazar stood w/ AFU Action, ABIC Action, and partners to unveil new data about the hardships U.S. citizens and their families face as a result of our broken immigration system and called for Congressional action on the Dignity Act. 🧵
06.02.2026 14:32 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
AFU Action advocates for meaningful, bipartisan policy change that will benefit US citizens who are married to immigrants. We are in Washington, DC, this week to meet with elected representatives in Congress. Follow along this week for live updates.
02.02.2026 18:17 — 👍 2 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 1
For years, citizens in mixed-status marriages have struggled to break through the noise to let people know that we, too, are harmed by immigration policies. We are finally seeing growing awareness! Thank you, @caitlindickerson.bsky.social @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/o...
AFU’s report on mixed-status couples was featured in reporting by Patricia Serrano at Enlace Latino Inc.
"US immigration policy is separating families of American citizens, report reveals"
enlacelatinonc.org/en/US-immigr...
🚨 ACTION ALERT: Congress is negotiating the FY2026 Homeland Security bill RIGHT NOW.
ICE got $45B this year, and now they want BILLIONS more for detention beds.
Use the link below to contact your Reps & Senators today and say: "No more money for immigration detention!"
afuaction.org#/29
If you are aware of other updated know your rights resources, please share them below.
And if you or someone you know is married to a noncitizen who could be deported, please reach out to us at American Families United about how we can help.
Visit American Families United's homepage and scroll down to the Know Your Rights section for even more resources.
www.americanfamiliesunited.org
If you choose to participate in protests, the Democracy Security Project provides several resources, from a pocket guide to take with you, event safety tips, and how to interact with law enforcement.
democracysecurityproject.org/protest
CAIR Minnesota provides Know Your Rights information about ICE through a visual slide deck that you can click through together with your family and friends.
cairmn.org/know-your-ri...
The National Immigration Law Center answers the question "What is a Warrant?" in plain detail, including the difference between immigration warrants and judicial warrants.
www.nilc.org/resources/kn...
The ACLU emphasizes that "regardless of your immigration status, you have rights under the Constitution." Their webpage explains what your rights are based on several scenarios: whether you're pulled over while driving or if ICE comes to your house.
www.aclu.org/know-your-ri...
Immigrant Defense Project's Know Your Rights webpage includes resources you can download in a wide variety of languages. Their flyers explain who is at risk of an ICE arrest and your rights when interacting with ICE officers.
www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/know-your-ri...
The past few days have been a scary time for families across the country. AFU's leadership pulled together updated Know Your Rights resources to make sure you have the best information to keep you and your family safe. 🧵
13.01.2026 15:32 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
In 2025, AFU evolved from a grassroots movement into a powerful legislative force. With 200+ congressional meetings and record bipartisan support for the AFU Act, we’ve proven that our strength lies in community resilience and refusing to quit.
See my wrap-up here: www.instagram.com/p/DS5dAZLDl-...
Rep Salazar issued a press release today featuring American Families United's new study of mixed-status families. Get the entire report at americanfamliesunited.org and follow me here for updates about how our immigration system is hurting US citizens and what AFU is doing about it.
23.12.2025 19:12 — 👍 6 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
AFU member and leader Jenni Rivera spoke to ABC11 in Raleigh this week about what it's like to go through the holidays without Fidel. Please remember that many American families are missing a family member this holiday season.
abc11.com/post/family-...
This is my friend Julie. She spent Thanksgiving without her husband because our immigration system forced their family apart. She did everything right; and still lost her spouse to a broken law.
I’m proud of her for telling this story.
thehill.com/opinion/immi...