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Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center
Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center
(Español abajo) KIAC Announcements As you may know, KIAC is looking for a strategic and visionary Executive Director who is passionate about KIAC’s mission to work for the well-being and empowerment of immigrants through education, advocacy and social justice. We are excited to announce that we’re working with Koya Partners on this search. This is …
(Español abajo) January Stats KIAC Activities On February 7, more than 70 members of the KIAC community convened in Olympia, to champion two pivotal pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing the lives of immigrants. These measures would extend eligibility for unemployment insurance and healthcare coverage to all residents of Washington, regardless of immigration status. This …
Español abajo On Saturday, December 9, over 900 people from different parts of our community gathered at the East Bremerton Community Gym to celebrate the season at KIAC’s Holiday Celebration for Immigrant Families! Despite the wintery weather that made an appearance, throughout the six-hour long event, over 200 families joined us to celebrate the holidays …
Continue reading “KIAC’s Holiday Celebration was a Huge Success!”
(Español Abajo) October Numbers Impact Story Diego* came to KIAC in 2016 looking for help obtaining his United States citizenship. He had already received his green card, but dreamed of becoming a U.S. citizen. When he arrived at KIAC, he met with Accredited Representative Loanne who helped him understand the process for obtaining citizenship, helped …
Last year, Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center hosted a holiday event for our clients at our office. It was such a success that we have outgrown our space and we’re going all out this year! On Saturday, December 9, KIAC families will gather at the East Bremerton Community Gym for a day of holiday cheer. There …
Continue reading “Support KIAC’s Holiday Celebration for Immigrant Families!”
(Español abajo) September Numbers: Impact Story Daniela*, her six children and her partner came to Washington from their country of origin due to desperate circumstances. She and her partner were unable to find work, didn’t have enough food or money for their children, and were on the verge of becoming homeless. They faced discrimination due …
Friends of KIAC, We have exciting news to share! On October 10, KIAC will be holding our first in-house medical clinic. For the last several years, we have been partnering with West Sound Free Clinic to provide medical services to our clients through three clinics each month. At the end of August, West Sound Free …
Continue reading “October Touchpoint – From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
Every seat in the KIAC lobby was full yesterday! While yesterday was a busy day here at KIAC, it was not unique. Every day at KIAC is full with serving clients, but we recently expanded our Walk-in Wednesdays to include Immigration Legal Services making our Wednesday’s especially impactful. Here’s a breakdown of the fun we …
(Español abajo) Recent events in Texas have cast a spotlight on the problematic immigration policies that continue to inflict harm upon those seeking safety in the United States. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s latest border patrol measures have escalated this week, with the installation of floating buoys along the Rio Grande River and razor wire installed …
Continue reading “Immigration Policies in Texas: A Call for Compassionate Reform”
(Español abajo) Dear Friends of KIAC, On behalf of KIAC’s Board of Directors, I am writing to let you know of a leadership change here at Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center. Jayson Vega is no longer with KIAC. The Board expresses gratitude for his time and service over the last ten months. During this time of …
Greetings, Friends of KIAC, I am thrilled to have the privilege of writing this month’s Touchpoint email and taking this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Samantha, and I serve as the Development and Marketing Associate at Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC). Since joining the KIAC team in December 2022, I have been continually …
Continue reading “KIAC’s July Touchpoint – with Guest Author, Samantha!”
Cinco de Mayo has a misconception in the U.S. as being the Mexican Independence Day, or Mexico’s version of the 4th of July. In actuality, Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16th and Cinco de Mayo is largely a U.S. holiday. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Battle of Puebla against the French, but the Cinco …
Continue reading “A Little PSA For Folks Without Mexican Heritage”
(Español abajo) This week is National Volunteer Week, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to highlight the 200+ incredible volunteers who make the work we do at KIAC possible. Our volunteers have a wide variety of experience and range in age from 12 to 80+. Each year, they dedicate over 11,000hours of work at KIAC. They work as …
Kitsap’s biggest day of giving, Kitsap Great Give, is tomorrow, April 11! A generous KIAC donor has offered to match the next 50 gifts that come in at the $100 level! Early giving is open, and we are 5% of the way to our $60,000 goal! Without the support of community members like you, we …
(Español Abajo) Greetings, Friends of KIAC, Jayson has handed over this month’s Touchpoint to me! If I haven’t met you already, my name is Kim (she/her pronouns), and I work as the Development & Marketing Director here at KIAC. I joined the team in August 2021, and have enjoyed getting to know my colleagues, our …
Continue reading “KIAC’s April Touchpoint – with Guest Author, Kim!”
Comment template below. Act now! The U.S. government’s Covid-19 public health emergency is lifting in May, and it is expected to take the 2020 pandemic expulsion order, Title 42, along with it. Although this might seem like an advantageous time to restore the right to seek asylum at the border, The Biden administration has signaled …
Continue reading “STAND WITH KIAC IN OPPOSITION OF EXPANDED ASYLUM INELIGIBILITY BY MARCH 27”
From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director Friends of KIAC, Warm greetings to you all. Since starting at KIAC last fall, I have been impressed with how collaborative this team is. None of us does this work alone, and each team member has built strong relationships with each other, and with our clients and partner …
Continue reading “KIAC’s March Touchpoint has a Guest Author!”
The New York Times recently published an expose highlighting the exploitation of migrant children working in factories, slaughterhouses, construction sites, and agriculture throughout the United States. Migrant children are coming to the U.S. in record numbers – in the last two years alone, more than 250,000 children have entered the United States by themselves. These …
Last Thursday, 64 members of KIAC’s community gathered in Olympia to advocate for two pieces of legislation that would positively impact the lives of immigrants – HB1095/SB5109 and a health equity budget proviso. As you may recall, HB1095/SB5109 would create an unemployment system for undocumented workers who currently pay into unemployment but are ineligible for …
Continue reading “Did you hear what happened last Thursday? “
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently rolled out a new app for asylum seekers to apply for asylum at the U.S.-Mexican border. This app presents several barriers for asylum seekers, including that many have outdated phones that are not compatible with the app, or do not have internet access to utilize the app. However, …
Continue reading “App for Asylum Seekers Presents Barriers and Racial Bias”
Our hearts are broken for the communities in Syria and Turkey who have been impacted by the devestating earthquakes today, Monday February 6, 2023. Not only has this natural disaster destroyed homes and buildings throughout the area, causing significant loss of life, but the harsh winter weather conditions put displaced residents and those still trapped …
Forwarding the below email from our friends at WAISN! “Our bill, SB 5109, which would allow all of Washington’s undocumented workers to apply for unemployment insurance without affecting immigration status, will be heard in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee tomorrow, Thursday January 26th, at 8:00am. We need your help to make sure legislators vote …
Continue reading “Act TONIGHT! State your position on Senate Bill 5109”
On Wednesday at KIAC, immigrants and KIAC team members filled our conference room and spilled out into the hallways. Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) visited the KIAC office, meeting our clients and updating us on two current advocacy projects – Unemployment Insurance for Undocumented Workers (HB 1095/SB 5109) and the Health Equity for Immigrants bill. …
Friends of KIAC, Greetings and happy New Year! We have just ended a strong year for KIAC, in which we achieved several momentous goals. Behind this effort, there are numerous people who make this work possible. I appreciate the skill, dedication, and commitment that everyone invests in KIAC. Without our team of volunteers, staff members …
We are saddened and frustrated by the Biden Administration decision to expand the use of Title 42. This recent announcement places limits on the number of people who can seek asylum in the United States, and prohibits some immigrants from seeking their right to asylum at the U.S. border. The changes outlined in this policy …
Continue reading “Our Thoughts on the Biden Administration Expansion of Title 42”
For many of us, these three words don’t hold much meaning. But for several of KIAC’s clients, Special Immigrant Juvenile status is the difference between remaining safely in the United States and being sent back into situations of abuse and neglect. Larry, KIAC’s Director of Legal Services, is working with one such client. At a …
What a FUN, FAMILY, HOLIDAY EVENT we had here at KIAC on Saturday, December 10! You, our supporters, donated slippers, craft items, blankets, books, jackets, toys and MORE to fill over 200 holiday bundles! We had 86 families come through KIAC on Saturday, December 10. There were homemade cookies, champurrado, balloon animals, face painting, story …
As a child, Marta* endured a series of devastating events. Her mother died of cancer, and her father suffered a serious brain injury which left him unable to work and in poor health. When Marta was just 11 years old, she made the arduous journey to the United States accompanied by family acquaintances with whom …
Continue reading “Marta’s Story … When you give to KIAC, you help change lives!”
The following story highlights the type of trauma experienced by many immigrants and the life-changing work done by KIAC’s immigration legal team. When you donate to KIAC, you make this work possible. This young woman suffered sexual assault by government security forces in her country of origin resulting in pregnancy. To escape further harm, she …
Continue reading “A STORY OF TRAUMA & RESILIENCE … KIAC OFFERS HOPE“
Warm greetings to you all! It is very special to me to address and greet you at one of the most beautiful times of the year. KIAC has undergone many changes in 2022. After years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, KIAC has had the opportunity to reimagine ways to continue providing our services. It may …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director“
Monday, December 5 is the last day for donation drop-offs, and we don’t want you to miss out on the fun! We still need items from each of the categories listed below! Can’t buy supplies but want to donate? Click the donate button and choose “Holiday Bundles” from the drop down! Both Eagle Harbor Book …
These are just a handful of the immigration news headlines you and I woke up to this year. These stories are a clarion call – they stir our sense of injustice and drive us to act. We care about immigrants, and we want to help. But it can feel daunting to know what to do. …
The holiday season is upon us, and we are planning another holiday distribution event for immigrant families in our community! Last year we served over 250 families, including 634 children, and we anticipate serving just as many this year. We would love your help collecting gifts! You can find specific donation requests on the flyer. …
Over the last 8 weeks, KIAC team members assisted 1,093 individuals with applications for the WA Immigrant Relief Fund. This is a fund for immigrants in Washington state who were adversely affected by COVID-19 but who did not qualify for any pandemic relief funding due to their immigration status. 1,093 applications translates to roughly $2.9 million going into the pockets of our …
Friends of KIAC, It has been one month since I started working as the Executive Director of KIAC. I always imagined it would be a very special place to work, but after these last weeks, I can share that it is much more special than I imagined. There is no job more rewarding than serving …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director“
A few months ago, Ana heard the two words we all dread, the two words that change the trajectory of your life. It’s cancer. Ana has been a patient at KIAC’s medical clinic for several years, and although KIAC didn’t directly provide the testing, surgery, and treatment Ana needed for her cancer, our relationships with …
Friends of KIAC, Greetings to you all. This is the first time I have the honor of addressing each of you. My name is Jayson Vega, and I am a native of Puerto Rico. On September 19, I started working as Executive Director at Kitsap Immigrant Assistant Center, replacing Interim Executive Director Thangam Chandrasekaran, who …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
The pandemic, climate change, wars and politics have significantly impacted immigrants. As the only organization in the West Salish/Puget Sound Region providing immigrant-centric services, KIAC’s role as the trusted hub for immigrants in our region is critical, now more than ever We need your support. In light of continued caution for the health and well-being of our …
Continue reading “Check out this animated short about KIAC the hub! “
Dear Friends of KIAC, We are happy to announce that Jayson Vega López joined our team this week as KIAC’s Executive Director! As Jayson steps into the role, he will inherit a stable organization that has greatly expanded its services over the last several years. This past year, KIAC’s Interim Executive Director Thangam Chandrasekaran has …
Midterm elections are nearing, and we are hearing a lot of anti-immigrant rhetoric that is not based in fact. Here at KIAC, we believe that facts matter to you as much as they do to us. In addition to our role as THE hub for immigrants in our region, we are also here as a hub of …
Continue reading “Facts Matter – Immigration Facts & KIAC’s Midyear Report”
KIAC’s Legal Services Director Larry Chin (pictured in this photo at a recent asylum workshop) will be speaking at Enlighten Kitsap in one week! Mark your calendars and RSVP to attend this engaging informational session. Larry will give a brief history and overview of United States immigration law and offer insights into how past events …
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.“ –John Lewis, member of the US House of Representatives for Georgia and late civil rights activist Dear Friends of KIAC, John Lewis’s quote about voting being the most powerful nonviolent tool we have resonated …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
Dear Friends of KIAC, In January of this year, I began my role as Interim Executive Director at KIAC. It has truly been my absolute privilege and pleasure working towards KIAC’s mission, both these last seven months and for the prior two years as a legal volunteer and member of the Board of Directors. My …
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ― Margaret Mead Dear Friends of KIAC, At a time when much around us is changing and feels out of control, our work reminds us that we are able to make changes, small …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
Dear Friends of KIAC, May was a month of high and lows. From a personal standpoint, I received my long awaited letter from USCIS for the final part of my immigration journey – notice of my Citizenship Interview. After restudying for the civics exam, and with all my paperwork in hand, I attended my interview …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
Dear Friends of KIAC, The words by Dr. Farmer in our quote of the month, “We want to be on the winning team, but at the risk of turning our backs on the losers, no, it is not worth it. So we fight the long defeat,” resonate with us at KIAC and with the work …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
Yesterday, during Kitsap Great Give, KIAC supporters gave $61,950 to Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center. When combined with match funds from a key KIAC partner, that’s over $90,000 donated to support our work! Thangam, Kim & Dasha are here to pass along KIAC’s gratitude!!
A KIAC client and their sibling worked for the US government in Afghanistan and had a long history of being in opposition to the Taliban. When the US withdrew from Afghanistan, our client and their sibling were able to get out. The spouse and children of our client’s sibling are still in Afghanistan, most likely …
Continue reading “ALL GIFTS MATCHED THROUGH KITSAP GREAT GIVE!”
Several months ago, a young family in our local community was torn apart. ICE arrested one parent — the one providing the family’s sole source of income — and took them to NW ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. The other parent and their children were left at home, with immediate need and without financial options. In the …
Dear Friends, Like you, we are heartbroken by the images of the destruction of Ukranian cities, the deaths of civilians, and the millions of people — mostly women and children (and often, their pets) — fleeing for their lives. We are inspired by Ukrainian courage and the leadership of President Zelenskyy. Along with the horror …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
In January, KIAC received an urgent call from a woman whose husband was detained in the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. Maria and her husband Simón, (names changed for confidentiality) fled their native country after receiving harassment and threats from elements of their government — a government Simón and his family had been in …
Dear Friends, February may have been a shorter month, but it was certainly filled with more than its share of heartbreaking news. Between the wars unfolding in Ukraine and continuing in Yemen, and the release of the Sixth Assessment Report by the IPCC regarding the climate crisis, we at KIAC have grappled with finding our …
Continue reading “FROM THE DESK OF KIAC’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR”
KIAC’s volunteer Accredited Representatives are with our immigration legal clients every step of the process. And earlier this month, we welcomed Doug H to the Accredited Representative (AR) team! Becoming a DOJ Accredited Representative is not an easy task and requires a lengthy process of both study and shadowing. We could not be more proud …
Continue reading “KIAC WELCOMES A NEW ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE”
Dear Friends, What a month January 2022 has been! I started in my new role as Interim ED at KIAC, and we added 3 more staff members while keeping our offices closed for 2 weeks due to Covid. It really speaks to the extraordinary team here at KIAC, that in spite of all the challenges and new …
Continue reading “From the Desk of KIAC’s Executive Director”
THANK YOU for making KIAC’s Holiday Bundles such a HUGE success! Because of you, KIAC delivered holiday bundles filled with fun and functional items to 268 immigrant families in Kitsap and Mason Counties. We couldn’t have done it without you! YOU made this happen! From donating items, packaging and delivering bundles, to all the tasks and …
Dear Friends of KIAC, We are happy to share the news that Thangam Chandrasekaran will become Kitsap Immigrant Assistant Center’s Interim Executive Director following the retirement of our current Executive Director, Sally Tellekson. Since 2019, Thangam has made valuable contributions to KIAC as a Board member, volunteer, and most recently, Treasurer. She knows all aspects …
KIAC is growing, and so is our team! We are currently hiring for two positions. Come work with us! Recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of all people, Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center works for the well-being and empowerment of immigrants through education, advocacy and social justice. Legal Services Coordinator: The Legal Services Coordinator will be part …
Dear KIAC Friends and Partners, It’s been an honor to be a part of the KIAC team for the past four years. It is, therefore, a bittersweet moment for me to announce my retirement. I will be leaving behind good friends and colleagues, and good work that has challenged and inspired me. A little over four …
Be part of this work and make your #GivingTuesday gift today! A young family fled their country of origin to escape beatings and death threats by government agents. At the US border, they were separated, and the mother was sent to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. The rest of her family was released and allowed to …
There are new faces & roles at KIAC, and we’d like to introduce you to the new members of the KIAC team! Although this face is not new to KIAC, her role is! Graciela Zapata has accepted the position of Operations Manager at KIAC and will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations. Previously KIAC’s …
Because of the support of our partners & supporters, KIAC was able to step up for our immigrant neighbors. Thank you for supporting KIAC.
Your generosity brought in over $60,000 for KIAC — helping us surpass our $50,000 “Bridging the Gap” fundraising goal! We are so thankful for your support.
WOW! Thanks to you we hit our $50,000 “Bridging the Gap” fundraising goal. BUT, thanks to a wonderfully generous KIAC donor, the match continues! The next 50 gifts at the $50 level will be matched, dollar-for-dollar! And KIAC can do some pretty great things with each 50-50 match, including any one of the below essential …
100% of our staff and board are ALL IN! We will match YOUR GIFT, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 — helping us bridge the $50,000 gap in KIAC’s budget left by cancelling our in-person fundraiser. Check out our campaign page to learn more about KIAC’s work throughout this pandemic. Watch our video. And join …
Imagine living in a place that has changed overnight. Imagine waking up one day to a world that’s shut down and realizing you are now living in the middle of a global pandemic. Imagine losing your job that very day — worrying about how you’ll make your monthly payments, buy your groceries, and keep your family safe from …
Covid-19 Keeps Us Apart In the interest of safety for you and our community, we have cancelled our 2021 fall Dinner & Auction Event. We will very much miss gathering with YOU! YOUR Passion for this Work Pulls Us Together During this pandemic, KIAC has stepped up to connect immigrant families in our region with …
We at KIAC are paying close attention to the events unfolding in Afghanistan. Like all of you, we are heartbroken for the human beings caught in this humanitarian crisis, especially women, girls and LGBTQ+ Afghans. We are in touch with the national immigration legal community, and have heard detailed reports from lawyers with clients in …
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Bainbridge Community Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, especially throughout the pandemic. Their support helped to ensure that when resources for immigrant families were most critical, KIAC would be there to help. As one of the recipients of the BCF 2021 Community Grant, we extend our humble gratitude once again …
The KIAC team is excited to announce that we will be hosting the KIAC Dinner & Auction event once again. After a long year apart, we look forward to returning to what is familiar and sitting around a table with you once again. Please mark your calendars to join us on Friday September 24th at …
Continue reading “Save the date – KIAC’s Dinner & Auction is back!”
Thank you for your support during the Kitsap Great Give! We are so proud to partner with you in support of the immigrant communities of Kitsap and surrounding counties. Check out the Kitsap Great Give Leaderboard to find out the final numbers for KIAC and the other nonprofits you supported. We are so grateful!
Join us on April 20th for 24-hours of online giving to Kitsap non-profit organizations. You can get a jump start today with early giving, which takes place from April 1st to 19th. Your gift helps immigrants integrate into our community and into American life. Giving generously during the Kitsap Great Give provides emergency assistance for …
Continue reading “It’s time again for the Kitsap Great Give!”
Delaina Ashley Yaun Xiaojie Tan Daoyou Feng Paul Andre Michels Soon C. Park Hyun J. Grant Suncha Kim Yong A. Yue These are the names of the eight human beings whose lives were brutally cut short in this week’s massacre in Georgia. Seven of those killed were women. Six were of Asian descent. One was …
Somehow we weathered and witnessedA nation that isn’t brokenbut simply unfinishedThere is always lightif only we are brave enough to see itif only we are brave enough to be it “The Hill We Climb” Amanda Gorman, Inaugural Poet In his Inauguration speech this morning, President Joseph R. Biden proclaimed that today is “A day of history and …
Continue reading ““A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve.””
On December 4th, a federal judge in New York recently ordered the Trump Administration to restore the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program to the way it existed prior to September 2017. While community members who do not currently have DACA status are now eligible to apply, it is important to note that ongoing …
For the first time in our nation’s history, a person of color and daughter of immigrants is set to become the Vice-President of the United States. Speaking to the crowd in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday night, Kamala Harris proudly acknowledged her roots as the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father. Speaking about …
Despite the partial court shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year immigration judges managed to decide the second highest number of asylum decisions in the last two decades. The rate of denial continued to climb to a record high of 71.6 percent, up from 54.6 percent during the last year of the Obama Administration in …
We honor the memory of one of our community leaders who was taken from us too soon due to COVID-19. Our Family Services Director, shares this: “Mariano Matias Mendoza immigrated to the US from Guatemala decades ago. He became fluent in English, his third language along with his native Mayan language Mam, and Spanish. He …
On Friday, July 17, a U.S. District Court Judge ordered the administration to restore DACA to its “pre-September 5, 2017” status. This means that people with DACA can renew their status AND that people can apply for DACA for the first time. We all celebrated this decision until we found that the US Citizenship and …
Continue reading “DACA denied – USCIS is defying our courts”
On June 15, 2020, the Trump Administration proposed a new regulation which, if implemented, would gut the U.S. asylum system. This new policy will result in America turning its back on thousands of immigrants every year who flee horrific conditions such as domestic violence and threats due to gender identity and sexual orientation. Women escaping …
Continue reading “ADD YOUR VOICE TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN ASYLUM SYSTEM!”
At Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, we are heartened that the Supreme Court today rejected the Trump Administration’s attempt to end DACA. The Court found that the administration did not follow the necessary legal procedures in attempting to end the program. This is welcome news for the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients in the country …
We at Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center condemn the murder of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who was strangled last week by a Minneapolis police officer. Derek Chauvin now has been charged with the killing, but we recognize that this was not an isolated incident. Racist violence against black and brown people in America is …
Today, you are the star of the story. What an unbelievable day of generosity in Kitsap County! Because of you, Kitsap Community Foundation helped to raise $1.9 million dollars for local nonprofits like KIAC during the Kitsap Great Give. This sends a strong message that despite our current obstacles, we show up for each other. You showed …
Dear KIAC friends, From the first days of the COVID-19 outbreak, KIAC’s immigrant clients, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, faced immediate hardships. Our clients are part of the backbone of Kitsap County: health care workers, landscapers, agricultural workers, domestic workers, restaurant workers, caregivers, laborers, brush pickers for the floral industry. Their jobs can’t …
Information about Immigration Court USCIS Information COVID-19 is now impacting us here in Kitsap County. We want to let you know that in these times of uncertainty, the safety and health of our clients, volunteers, staff, and the wider community are our highest priorities. KIAC’s response to this unprecedented occurrence is guided by our ongoing …
The Ninth Circuit has again stopped the administration from making people who arrive at the southern border, from a country other than Mexico, apply for asylum in the first country they entered on their way to the US. Several people have already been returned to Guatemala (an alleged “safe” third country) to apply for asylum …
Continue reading “Ninth Circuit reinstates Injunction against “safe third country””
On Friday February 28th the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration’s Migrant Protections Protocols, more accurately named Migrant Punishment Protocols. While this rule has been in effect, more than 60,000 people seeking asylum have been forced to wait in dangerous conditions along the border in Mexico. Since the program …
COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED Fee changes proposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, will significantly increase filing fees for various immigration benefits, including Naturalization, Lawful Permanent Residency, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and Employment Authorization. The agency has proposed, for the first time, to charge a fee to apply for asylum. It …
The United States and Guatemala have entered into an agreement, the US-Guatemala Asylum Cooperation Agreement (ACA), that denies people from El Salvador and Honduras the right to apply for asylum in the US. Instead these asylum seekers are being sent to Guatemala to apply for asylum. I can’t believe I’m writing this but it’s true. …
We ask that you consider commenting on the new rule that the Justice Department put into effect on August 26th. This rule further limits the neutrality of immigration judges and could seriously constrain the ability of accredited representatives, like all the volunteers who do legal work at KIAC, to provide representation for immigrants in our …
Today ICE agents stopped and detained several people in Port Orchard and Bremerton. They attempted to intimidate a US citizen by blocking his car but he was familiar with his rights and made them back off. We consider this a case of racial profiling. You can see the video he made here. KIAC is reaching …
Today, Friday, September 20, people of all ages are taking to the streets to demand immediate action on climate change from our leaders. Climate change will cause the forced migration of many millions of people over the course of this century, and the bulk of those displaced will have played little role in the emissions …
We at KIAC are disappointed in and angered by the statement of Acting USCIS Director Cuccinelli to NPR that the Emma Lazarus poem on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty would more correctly read, “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and not become a public …
From the National Immigration Forum: Representatives Michael McCaul (R- Texas) and Eliot L. Engel (D- New York) introduced the United States–Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act, or H.R. 2615, on May 9, 2019. The bill seeks to address the root causes of migration from the three Northern Triangle countries – El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. It …
This is the world many of our clients live in. Asylum seekers with a credible fear of persecution cannot get a bond hearing On April 16, 2019, the Attorney General issued a decision in Matter of M-S-, 27 I&N Dec. 509 (A.G. 2019), in which he overruled the Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter …
Continue reading “The on again, off again world of bond hearings for asylum seekers”
On July 22, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new policy designed to dramatically expand expedited removal to apply throughout the United States to anyone who has been in the U.S. for less than two years. The policy will take effect on July 23, 2019, before the public has the opportunity to …
The latest case-by-case records from the Immigration Courts indicate that as of the end of May 2019 one or more removal hearings had already been held for nearly 47,000 newly arriving families seeking refuge in this country. Of these, almost six out of every seven families released from custody had shown up for their initial …