Who We Are
Photo: Courtesy of DAAF Archives: Maddox M. Godinez (center) 2018, Co-founder of DAAF
Our Commitment to U.S.-Born Children
Affected by Deportation
Our Commitment to U.S.-Born Children Affected by Deportation Dream Across America Foundation (DAAF) is dedicated to supporting U.S.-born children whose lives have been disrupted by parental deportation, family separation, or cross‑border instability. Many of these children grow up outside the United States after a parent is deported, while others remain in the country without consistent access to the rights and services they are entitled to as American citizens. Both groups face barriers that existing systems are not designed to address.
We believe that no child’s future should be defined by immigration policies beyond their control. Our work ensures that U.S.-born children, whether living abroad or still in the United States, have a clear pathway to safety, stability, and opportunity.
DAAF provides programs that strengthen education access, healthcare navigation, advocacy, legal information, and social reintegration. We help children and families understand their rights, reconnect to essential services, and prepare for a successful transition into or back into life in the United States. Our approach is trauma informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in the belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive.
We collaborate with families, educators, mental health professionals, legal experts, and community partners to address the unique challenges these children face. By combining direct support with systems‑level advocacy, we work to close service gaps and build long‑term pathways to stability for U.S.-born children affected by deportation.
DAAF is uniquely positioned to lead this work. Our organization is rooted in lived experience and built by individuals who understand the realities of growing up between countries. Unlike larger institutions, we focus exclusively on the needs of U.S.-born children displaced abroad or destabilized within the United States due to parental deportation. Our solutions are designed specifically for their circumstances and informed by the communities we serve.
Through strategic partnerships, community‑based support, and a commitment to equity, we ensure that these children are seen, heard, and supported. The systems that failed them are not equipped to safeguard their rights, but we are here to help them move forward with the stability, preparation, and confidence they need to reclaim their place in the United States.
About Our Founders
Siblings S. Thanh and Maddox Godínez founded Dream Across America Foundation with a clear vision: to ensure that every U.S.-born child affected by parental deportation has access to the education, healthcare, and stability needed to thrive. Their own upbringing in central Mexico as dual citizens showed them how critical preparation, support, and opportunity are for a successful transition back to the United States.
Their lived experience shaped DAAF’s mission and continues to guide its work. Despite being early in their college careers, Thanh and Maddox lead a growing coalition of educators, mental health professionals, child advocates, legal experts, and volunteers across borders. They understand that rebuilding a child’s future begins with consistent support, trusted guidance, and access to essential services.
At DAAF, we believe that home is more than a physical place. It is a foundation of identity, security, and opportunity. Our goal is to ensure that every U.S.-born child who had to leave the country, or who remains in the United States without stable support due to parental deportation, has a pathway to move forward with dignity, stability, and hope.