News from rural America.

Community Works aims to reduce rural polarization, the U.S. is losing frontline workers to DACA renewal delays while ICE raids increasingly target young people in small towns and Alaska's oldest lighthouse shines again.

TRANSCRIPT

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, this is the news from rural America.

Studies show addressing local needs through non-political volunteer work can be a cure for polarization.

That's the mission of Community Works, a group devoted to building community and trust in spite of divisions.

National Director Merida Thien says they're part of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative.

We need people that are willing to focus locally doing good works with neighbors.

Folks who are willing to be that presence in the community without always having to persuade people.

Started in Virginia, it now has 15 rural chapters in seven states.

They organize volunteers for non-political efforts like waterway cleanups, diaper drives, and food distribution.

Dean says they're seeing more folks who are disillusioned with partisan politics or who've never gotten involved before.

What I have seen happen through community works is they're becoming an integral part. and also finding like-minded folks.

Some migrants are losing their jobs from delays in DACA renewals.

That's hard on employers and rural communities.

Half a million DREAMers came here as children and are currently enrolled in the Obama-era program, promised deportation protection and a chance to work legally.

But the White House has slowed renewals, pushing out teachers, nurses, even police officers.

Rebecca Shee is with the American Business Immigration Coalition.

You're not just harming these professionals, you're harming the American economy and also American citizens that depend on their hard work.

Immigrant rights groups are suing over the mounting backlog.

The Department of Homeland Security blames the delay on additional vetting.

Meanwhile, ICE raids are escalating in small towns and legal aid groups say often they're targeting vulnerable young people.

For decades, unaccompanied minors who suffered abuse or neglect were given special status and allowed to stay in the U.S.

But in May, the Trump administration removed those protections, exposing them to arrest and deportation.

Lisa Paricio is with the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project.

We heard so many reports of young people of working age who are afraid to go to work, afraid to seek higher education, afraid to start their lives.

One analysis shows young people are being deported at roughly three times the rate of the first Trump presidency.

Alaska's oldest lighthouse is open to visitors.

Built in 1906 after a tragic shipwreck, Alaska's Eldred Rock served as a beacon for navigation until it closed in 1973 and fell into disrepair.

The local preservation association led by Sue York restored it.

She calls visiting a magical experience.

There's not people there.

It's very peaceful.

It's very quiet.

All you really hear is natural sounds.

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, I'm Roz Brown.

For more rural stories, visit dailyyonder.com.