Service Categories: Immigration-Citizenship-Legal

Immigration, Citizenship & Legal

Archive – Pathways to Protection for Afghans at Risk

9/1/21 from NILC (Nat Immigration Law Center)
On August 31, President Biden announced the full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the conclusion of “the largest airlift in U.S. history” a 17-day evacuation of approximately 120,000 people from Hamid Karzai airport in Kabul. In addition to U.S. citizens and citizens of other allied nations, among those evacuated were at-risk Afghans who assisted the U.S. military effort or who were otherwise under threat. The U.S. has announced three different immigration pathways that are being used to evacuate and resettle vulnerable Afghans: Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status, the Priority 2 (P2) Refugee Program, and Humanitarian Parole.

Archive – Volunteer Legal Support for Afghans

12/31/23 Update – no longer accepting volunteers – This form is for volunteer legal workers interested in assisting with Afghan humanitarian parole applications. Volunteers will provide pro se support to Afghans and their sponsors, but will not formally represent applicants.
For more information about how to file for humanitarian parole for Afghan evacuees, see our training video and step-by-step guide

Cities for Action / DACA Toolkit

Toolkit to help keep DACA recipients and impacted communities informed about the current status of the DACA program, light the pathway to resources amid a constantly shifting landscape, and offer tools to both elevate the voices of DACA recipients and impacted community and drive the message that DACA recipients strengthen the social and institutional fabric of the United States.

Afghan resettlement raises the question- Who is coming to the U.S.?

9/5/21 With tens of thousands of Afghans arriving at the end of America’s longest war, such comments from witnesses and government officials have left a question looming over the coming weeks, one that is already dividing host communities from Missoula, Mont., to Jacksonville, Fla.: Who is coming to the United States?
The emerging picture is more complicated than President Biden’s depiction of the airlift that whisked planeloads of Afghans to safety as a moral imperative to save people who helped Americans during a difficult conflict despite the risk. “We got thousands of Afghan translators and interpreters, and others who supported the United States, out” he said recently. Key Words: Refugees, Asylum

Afghan Coalition

Formed in 1996, Afghan Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. We are dedicated to strengthening Afghan families, improving their access to social services, and building a strong and united Afghan American community. Located at the Family Resource Center in Fremont, CA, the Afghan Coalition is the largest Afghan-American organization in the US. Serving over 1,000 community members per year, particularly immigrant women and children, bilingual/bicultural advocates bridge the language and cultural gaps between community members and financial and social services.
Little Kabul
Key Words: Refugee

Switchboard (for Refugee Service Providers)

Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the US. Funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Switchboard offers a library of learning resources, an online evidence database, a range of self-paced e-learning courses, regular live learning opportunities, and on-demand technical assistance for ORR-funded organizations. Switchboard is implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC has partnered with Lutheran Immigrant Refugee Service (LIRS) to provide employment-related training and technical assistance.

Archive – California Democrats tell Biden to send Afghan refugees to Golden State

8/27/21 A cadre of California members of Congress, including several from the Bay Area, have told President Biden the Golden State is ready and willing to serve as a “safe harbor” for Afghan refugees and special immigrant visa applicants fleeing their home country that’s now under Taliban rule.
In a letter to Biden delivered Friday, East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell, along with Southern California Reps. Ted Lieu and Adam Schiff, wrote the U.S. is “indebted to our Afghan partners, many of whom aided the U.S. military and diplomatic efforts” and risked their lives during a 20-year conflict.

Explainer: Humanitarian Parole and the Afghan Evacuation

8/30/21 The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban has prompted a refugee crisis. UNHCR reports that more than 550,000 Afghans have been displaced since January due to Taliban advances. Those most at risk include women leaders and activists, human rights workers, journalists, and tens of thousands of individuals who have assisted U.S. efforts in the country and are marked by their connection to the U.S. military.
Due to the inadequacy of the SIV and P-2 programs in the context of an emergency evacuation, on August 23 the administration announced it would be using its humanitarian parole authority to process in evacuated Afghans who do not already have visas. This explainer will define humanitarian parole and describe how it is being used in the ongoing evacuation.

Archive – Afghan American Foundation Emergency Resource List

8/17/21 In this moment of humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, please consider donating directly or otherwise supporting established, vetted and reputable organizations working in Afghanistan and in support of the Afghan people. The list below has been compiled includes organizations/efforts that AAF board members and other community individuals have placed a great deal of trust into. Emergency Donations links to reputable organizations providing life-saving care in Afghanistan are included

Bay Area’s rising Asian and Hispanic populations are driving region’s growth, census reveals

8/12/21 The percentage of White residents fell in every county while the share of Latino residents grew in all but Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
That’s a trend now being mirrored across the country, where the population of White residents shrank over the past decade for the first time while the number of Asian and Latino Americans rose.

Archive -OVERVIEW OF THE NEW U NONIMMIGRANT (“U VISA”) BONA FIDE DETERMINATION

7/2021 On June 14, 2021, USCIS announced a new “bona fide determination” process whereby certain U petitioners and their family members with pending U petitions can receive four-year work authorization and deferred action while they wait for full adjudication. This process could be very good for many of the 270,000 folks who have filed for a U visa and are waiting – but there are many folks left out, and of course, much of this depends on how the process will be implemented. This practice advisory explains the process as we understand it based on current information and draws heavily on the new guidance published in the USCIS Policy Manual on the U
Nonimmigrant Bona Fide Determination at Volume 3, Part C, Chapter 5, 1 which should be consulted for more details and further legal citations.

Stopping ICE From Unlawfully Detaining Immigrant Youth

7/2/21 Following a four-week trial in December 2019 and January 2020, the Court held on July 2, 2020 that ICE is violating the law in the manner in which it detains 18 year-olds.
This lawsuit challenged Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) practice of transferring unaccompanied minors who turn 18 years old to adult custody in the agency’s contracted jails and prisons, without considering less restrictive placements. In many cases, youth were sent to ICE detention even if they had sponsors waiting to take them in.

CITY OF SAN JOSÉ APPOINTS DIRECTOR TO NEW OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY

10/20/20 Zulma Maciel to helm new Office responsible for advancing citywide equity framework to address systemic racism. This Office is responsible for advancing systems change through a citywide racial equity framework that will examine and improve San José’s internal policies, programs, and practices to eradicate any structural and/or institutional racism in the City of San José. This includes a focus on enabling the organization, at all levels and in all departments, to identify ways to improve outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Key Words: Ethnic

Trabajos del Campo

7/21 Trabajosdelcampo.com: is an anonymous Job Review Platform for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North America. The goal is to improve the working and living conditions of farmworkers across the US and Canada by providing a platform to communicate freely about farm job working conditions(think Glassdoor for farmworkers).
The Anonymous Job Review Website Concept has already brought transparency and accountability to the workplace across numerous industries. Trabajosdelcampo.com will bring the concept to those who need it most, our Nations’ Farmworkers.

La Cooperativa Campesina de California

A 501 c (3) corporation, is the statewide association of agencies implementing and administering farm worker service programs including employment training, advocacy and disaster relief. Members: California Human Development Corporation (CHDC) | Center for Employment Training (CET) | Central Valley Opportunity Center (CVOC) | Employers’ Training Resource (ETR) | Proteus, Inc. | Multi-language: Spanish

Proteus, Inc.

Complementing its employment training and placement services, Proteus provides childcare and youth educational programming, safety training, and energy assistance. In addition to service centers, Proteus, Inc operates mobile service units to increase availability and impact on rural areas. Multi-language: Spanish
Counties Served: Fresno, Kings, Kern, Tulare and Los Angeles Member of
La Cooperativa Campesina

California Human Development (CHD)

bilingual programs in 13 counties to 15,000 individuals annually. CHD’s offerings include job training and placement assistance for rural laborers as well as tutoring, mentorship, and career advising for farmworker youth. CHD also provides affordable housing and energy services, criminal justice services, citizenship and immigration aid, and healthcare and disability services.
Multi-language: Spanish
Counties Served: Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Yolo, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, Contra Costa, Butte, and Colusa. Member of
La Cooperativa Campesina

New DACA Court Ruling

7/16/21 Update from the National Immigration Law Center
– A U.S. district court in Texas today agreed with a group of states, led by Texas, that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful.
The court ruled that DACA is unlawful and blocked the federal government from granting any new first-time DACA applications. However, the court will continue to allow DACA renewals. People with DACA will not lose their protections. For the time being, pending renewal applications will be adjudicated and current DACA recipients can continue to submit renewal applications. Key Words: NILC

Keep Your Benefits – Final Public Charge Rule & MediCal Update

FINAL PUBLIC CHARGE RULE:  The rule clarifies that immigrants will not be penalized for receiving most health care, food, and social programs.  Rules about public benefit programs and immigrants are confusing. But benefits can help your family stay healthy and thrive. Get the facts about public charge & immigration. Fill in the National Public Charge Test Guide to see if public benefits could affect different immigration options.   Spanish |   Chinese |  CA Specific Public Charge Test Guide

5/1/23 MediCal Update

For U.S. Latinos, COVID-19 Has Taken a Personal and Financial Toll

7/15/21 More than a year into the pandemic, Latinos in the United States say COVID-19 has harmed them and their loved ones in many ways. About half say a family member or close friend has been hospitalized or died from the coronavirus, and a similar share say they or someone in their household has lost a job or taken a pay cut during the pandemic. Yet amid these hardships, Latinos are upbeat about the future. Nearly two-thirds say the worst of the coronavirus outbreak is behind the country, and a majority say they expect their financial situation and that of their family to improve over the next year.

Dignity Not Detention

The Dignity Not Detention Act, passed in 2017 in California, is the first law in the country to halt immigration
detention growth and create more transparency and accountability in the U.S. immigration detention system. This is huge because California detains a quarter of all people in U.S. immigration detention each year. What
California does has a dramatic effect on the immigration detention
The bills that were signed into law in California are not perfect, but they are a huge step forward. Essentially, the
bills place a moratorium on immigration detention growth in the state of CA.

San Francisco Respect and Love Toolkits

This toolkit serves as a practical demonstration of San Francisco’s commitment to serve and support all people. These resources are available for those who live in fear
stemming from their immigration status and to educate and inform their allies. The toolkit includes ways to identify and find support for newcomers, ensuring that San
Francisco is a safe and inclusive city for everyone, offering access to important services geared toward integration and inclusion. This is a snapshot of the services available in San Francisco; for a more comprehensive look, please visit www.sfgov.org/oceia/immigrant-affairs or call 311 and press 3 for “other services.” Key Words: Sanctuary Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Arabic |
Russian

Supreme Court Denies Bond Hearings to People Pursuing Protection Claims Who Have Prior Removal Orders

6/30/21 The Supreme Court issued a decision on June 29 in the Johnson v. Guzman Chavez case. The majority of the justices determined that people with prior removal orders are subject to mandatory detention, even while they pursue proceedings to stop their deportation to a country where they established they have a reasonable fear of persecution or torture.
Without the opportunity to be released on bond, these individuals face months and even years in detention as they pursue protection in what are known as withholding-only proceedings. Withholding of removal is a form of protection that prohibits the U.S. government from deporting someone to a country where they will be persecuted or tortured.

SCC OIR Newsletter: June 2021

This month we celebrate our LGBTQ+ community by recognizing trailblazers that have fought for our rights to exist fully and authentically and we uplift Immigrant Heritage Month as we acknowledge the contributions of our essential workers, contributions to our economy ,and honor the sacrifices made for a better life! We continue to fight against anti-Asian hate and push for more immigration relief efforts. Additionally, we reflect on the long history of Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th in remembrance of the day all people living in the United States, including formerly enslaved, were granted freedom. This year, President Biden signed a bill acknowledging Juneteenth as a national holiday.

Welcoming Center Tool Kit – ENGAGING IMMIGRANT TALENT

7/21 This study was conducted during the global pandemic (COVID-19) with businesses and organizations switching nonessential operations to remote work. Further, during 2020, there was civil and social unrest due to the exposure of racial and gender disparities across many health, economic, and criminal justice systems in Philadelphia, as well as across the United States. The role of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the exposure to the social and political upheaval was at the forefront of our minds in the development of this tool. Key Words: Cultural Competence

San Jose’s Vietnamese community struggles with its political voice

7/9/21 In a city with the largest Vietnamese population in the nation, Vietnamese Americans are still struggling to find their voices in politics.
The lack”and loss”of Vietnamese representation in San Jose politics is the result of a number of factors, community leaders say, including an inherited distrust in politics and a generational and ideological division in the community.

From fields to the frontlines- Chava Bustamante inspires next generation

7/16/21 Bustamante came to the US from Mexico in 1968 and worked in the fields for the next 12 years. He came into contact with the United Farm Workers union in Salinas, and participated in his first strike that year. He formally joined the union in 1975.
The labor organizer, who recently stepped down as executive director of Latinos United for a New America (LUNA), was striking with the United Farm Workers in Salinas. He was sentenced to three months in Monterey County Jail for the strike, and upon release he took a long walk back home and started thinking about his future.

Biden Will Admit Asylum Seekers Ordered Deported Under Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols

6/23/21 Asylum seekers who were ordered deported for missing their U.S. court hearings under the Trump administration’s so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)”informally known as the “Remain in Mexico” program”will be allowed to restart their proceedings in the United States. Thousands of others whose cases were terminated because of procedural errors before they had a chance to seek asylum will also be allowed to restart the process.

Older undocumented immigrants to get Medi-Cal health care in CA

6/30/21 California plans to extend Medi-Cal health coverage to some 235,000 low-income undocumented immigrants over the age of 50 – offering the most expansive health coverage in the nation to people without legal residency.
The state already offers Medi-Cal health care to immigrant children and young adults under the age of 26. This latest expansion, once it receives final approval, will mean that many undocumented immigrants, except those who are 26 to 50, will be eligible.

Congress passes bill to fight hate crimes vs. Asian Americans

5/19/21 Congress approved legislation Tuesday intended to curtail a striking rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sending President Joe Biden a bipartisan denunciation of the spate of brutal attacks that have proliferated during coronavirus pandemic.
The bill, which the House passed on a 364-62 vote, will expedite the review of hate crimes at the Justice Department and make grants available to help local law enforcement agencies improve their investigation, identification and reporting of incidents driven by bias, which often go underreported. It previously passed the Senate 94-1 in April after lawmakers reached a compromise. Biden has said he will sign it.

My Undocumented Life

Our mission is to provide up-to-date information and resources to undocumented students, their families, and allies (including educators, counselors, and administrators). We post scholarship opportunities that are open to undocumented students, strategies for navigating the educational system while undocumented, information on how to apply for DACA, key upcoming immigration-related events, news on immigration policies, and much more. Most importantly, we want to provide a sense of community to our diverse group of readers. Multi-language: Key Words: Financial Aid

The Rising Tide of Violence and Discrimination Against Asian American and Pacific Islander Women and Girls

6/1/21 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
women and girls are prime targets of hate and
discrimination against the AAPI community. The
recent shootings across several Atlanta spas that
claimed the lives of eight people, including six Asian American women, came on the heels of a staggering increase in hate incidents targeting the AAPI community. Key Words: Hate Crimes, Chinese

Not Just a Latino Issue: Undocumented Asians in America

3/21 Of all migrants to the U.S., 40% come from Asia, and out of 18 million Asian Americans in the country, 1.7 million are undocumented. Undocumented status in the U.S. is a civil, not criminal, violation. Comprising nearly 6% of the total population, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are the fastest growing racial group in America. At the same time, Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders are deported at a rate of three times more than that of immigrants as a whole.

Refugees arriving in US unlikely to exceed cap set by Trump

5/16/21 President Joe Biden, under political pressure, agreed to admit four times as many refugees this budget year as his predecessor did, but resettlement agencies concede the number actually allowed into the U.S. will be closer to the record-low cap of 15,000 set by former President Donald Trump.
Refugee advocates say they are grateful for the increase because it’s symbolically important to show the world the United States is back as a humanitarian leader at a time when the number of refugees worldwide is the highest since World War II. But they’re frustrated, too, because more refugees could have been admitted if Biden hadn’t dragged his feet.

CWS Commends President Biden for Fulfilling Pledge to Increase Refugee Admissions Goal to 62,500 in FY 2021

5/3/21 Setting the stage to set an admissions goal of 125,000 next year, CWS urges the administration to immediately rebuild the resettlement program to resettle as many refugees as possible this year
Church World Service today commended President Biden’s announcement to formally increase the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to 62,500 for the remainder of the fiscal year. This will allow thousands of screened refugees to finally be resettled in the United States to join family members, escape peril, and build new lives in safety. This follows a months-long delay in finalizing an increased admissions goal, which jeopardized the safety of many and had already caused irreparable damage to thousands of refugees who were already approved for resettlement.

Guide to Promoting Immigrant Health

Undocumented Californians have the legal right to use public services.
A collection of multi-language public messages on resource eligibility for undocumented immigrants, powerpoints and downloadable materials for service providers to educate immigrants on their rights.
Info on Public Charge, COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, MediCare, EITC, language interpretation rights, and more.

Overwhelming majority of California’s Asian Americans fear physical violence, poll says

5/7/21 In the wake of a rash of alarming hate crimes nationwide, more Californians are acknowledging that Asian Americans experience discrimination, and an overwhelming majority of Asian Americans report that they fear becoming victims of hate-based violence, a new survey says.
The California Community Poll, which surveys Californians about politics, race and current events in conjunction with the Los Angeles Times, found that 70% of Californians agree that Asians are “frequently or sometimes” discriminated against.

SCC OIR Newsletter: May 2021

The Office of Immigrant Relations is excited to launch “WE BELONG: Our Voice, Our Story, and Our Solution!” a project of the New American Fellowship Cohort V. DACA recipients will participate in a 10-week fellowship where they will receive mentorship from distinguished Santa Clara County leaders, learn from and uplift some of the County’s most impactful grassroots leaders and community-based organizations, and shape and execute a community-based research project.

Unauthorized Immigrant Populations by Country and Region, Top States and Counties of Residence, 2018

This interactive map, based on Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates, shows the top states and counties of residence for unauthorized immigrants in the United States as of 2018, based on their country or region of origin. Select a country or region from the dropdown menu to learn where immigrants from that geography settle primarily. Hover over a state to get state population estimates.

CRISP (Collaborative Resources for Immigrant Services on the Peninsula)

a collaborative project involving seven member organizations whose shared mission is to provide free or low-cost immigration legal services to children, families, and the elderly living in Peninsula communities. CRISP partners rely on collaborative engagement and referral processes, high quality legal representation and support, and coordinated outreach efforts that enable more efficient delivery of immigration services and support in the Peninsula region. Serving San Mateo County. The partner agencies include:
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (API Legal Outreach) |
Catholic Charities Center for Immigration Legal and Support Services |
Coastside Hope (CH) |
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) |
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) |
Immigration Institute of the Bay Area – Redwood City Office (IIBA-RWC) |
La Raza Centro Legal (LRCL) |
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (LASSMC) |

ICE ends Trump-era policy of fining undocumented immigrants, calling penalties ‘ineffective’

4/23/21 Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer issue fines to undocumented immigrants who have failed to depart the United States, the agency announced Friday, a reversal from the Trump-era policy that threatened immigrants with thousands of dollars in debt to the federal government.
ICE officials said the agency rescinded the two Trump-era orders on the collection of financial penalties after determining the policy to be “ineffective,” and that it intends to cancel fines already issued to undocumented immigrants.

Bridging Divides, Creating Community: Arts, Culture, and Immigration

10/20 A creative placemaking field scan written by John C. Arroyo, Ph.D., AICP, in partnership with ArtPlace America. This field scan seeks to illuminate key priorities within the immigration sector and provide a framework for understanding the ways that arts and culture contribute to local, place-based immigration related outcomes. It is intended for artists and other arts and cultural stakeholders seeking to better understand and collaborate with a particular community development sector, as well as community development practitioners, policymakers, and funders who are interested in how arts and culture partners might further their work.

Taste of Belonging Cookbook

Welcoming America created this cookbook as a tool for meaningful connection across differences.
We paired recipes from diverse cultures with activities that connect people around a shared table and get them working together on a common goal. The three featured models apply the principles of intergroup contact theory, which we review in the next section. Each model has been tested in several regions of the United States, with people of various racial, ethnic, religious, and political identities and affiliations, and in all kinds of localities,
from small to large cities and in urban, rural, and suburban settings. At the end of the cookbook, you will find an overview of additional promising community building models.

Archive – USCIS Announces Return to Deference Policy

4/28/21 Deference is back! USCIS announced that, effective immediately, it will reinstate its 2004 policy of deferring to prior determinations of eligibility.
Rescinded by the Trump administration, this policy directed officers to “generally defer to prior determinations of eligibility when adjudicating petition extensions involving the same parties and facts as the initial petition.” This means that prior determinations made by USCIS will receive deference unless “there was a material error, material change in circumstances or in eligibility, or new material information” that would have an adverse impact on eligibility.

US COVID-19-Related Update on Travel to the US from India

4/30/21 Beginning Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the United States may well restrict travel from India due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 cases in India.
If an individual has a valid U.S. visa, they should plan to return to the United States before May 4, 2021. As a reminder, all air passengers two years of age and over who are entering the US (including U.S.?citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) must present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 3 calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.
As of today, visa appointments through May 13, 2021, have been cancelled by U.S. consulates in India. If emergency travel to the United States is required and an individual does not have a valid visa, some consulates may be accepting emergency appointments on a limited basis.

South Bay Vietnamese Americans wrestle with COVID-19, lack of information

12/15/20 San Jose alone is home to more than 100,000 Vietnamese American residents as of 2010 and has the largest population of Vietnamese Americans of any city outside of Vietnam. Santa Clara County as a whole has roughly 140,000 residents of Vietnamese ancestry. Yet, little is known about how COVID-19 has affected the Vietnamese American community in Santa Clara County.
The county has not published specific information about the community. Its data portal, which provides information on coronavirus case and death rates for different racial groups, does not include a breakdown of different Asian American subgroups, a category that includes Chinese Americans, Indian Americans and Filipino Americans.

Equal Justice Works

Facilitating Fellowships for public interest lawyers and law students to serve at legal services organizations across the nation to increase equal access to justice for communities in need.
Educating law students and lawyers about options to manage their student debt and advocating for loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

For immigrants, IDs prove to be a barrier to a dose of protection

4/11/21 The life-or-death race to get as many people vaccinated as possible before the coronavirus spawns more viral mutations, like the one that emerged in Brazil, started slowly but has accelerated as many of those crossing the finish line possess the wherewithal and inclination to navigate a mazelike system. As the nation nears the point where supply soon outpaces demand, the unvaccinated will increasingly be people who are reluctant or who are rebuffed by barriers blocking their way. Key Words: COVID-19, Pandemic

Report an Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident

Report an Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident
ADL believes people should not be targeted or treated unfairly because of their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or level of ability. If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of bias, bigotry, hate, antisemitism or extremism, please fill out our incident intake form below. We will do our best to investigate your situation and respond to you quickly. In an emergency, please dial 911.

Violence and hate against Asian Americans is a health and safety crisis for everyone

3/17/21 Public outings carry extra danger for Asian people, with a spate of recent attacks targeted against Asian elders that have resulted in racial trauma, injury, and death. Asian elders are perceived as vulnerable. Volunteer escorts, private guards and air horns aren’t enough. We need government support and commitment. Key Words: Hate Crime, AAPI

Right to Be (previously Hollaback!) Bystander Intervention Training to Stop Anti-Asian American and Xenophobic Harassment

In response to the rise in Anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment, we at Hollaback! partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC to adapt our free bystander intervention training as well as offering a de-escalation training to meet this moment.
Key Words: COVID-19, Pandemic

Agricultural Workers Complete Vaccinations through Partnership with County of Santa Clara, Monterey Mushrooms, United Farm Workers and UFW Foundation

3/31/21 Frontline agricultural workers received second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on César Chavez Day. Approximately 1,000 workers completed their COVID-19 vaccination on Sunday, March 28 and at the César Chavez Day event on March 31.
The vaccination drive is a partnership between the County of Santa Clara, United Farm Workers, Monterey Mushrooms, and the UFW Foundation. There have been numerous vaccination events for farm workers at Monterey Mushrooms and other farms in the area.
Key Words: Pandemic, Coronavirus, undocumented

Asian Americans face attacks during pandemic

3/15/21 Stop AAPI Hate began tracking violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on March 19 last year.
From then through the end of 2020, Stop AAPI Hate received a total of 3,292 complaints from all 50 states and Washington, DC, according to a Stop AAPI Hate news release. The coalition, which had previously reported a lower number of complaints for 2020, said some incidents that took place in 2020 were not reported until earlier this year.

After months of pressure from advocates, detained immigrants in California now eligible for vaccine

3/16/21 California public health officials say that people in federal immigration detention in facilities located in the state will now be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, KQED reports. State health officials said in an announcement that individuals “who reside or work in a high risk congregate residential setting, such as an incarceration/detention facility” which would include people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, would now be prioritized for the vaccine.

Biden admin to end Trump policy that let DHS deport caregivers for migrant children

3/12/21 The Biden administration said Friday it will end a Trump-era policy that let U.S. border agents collect information about the immigration status of people who came forward to care for unaccompanied migrant children so it could potentially deport them.
The policy, which began in 2018, allowed the Department of Homeland Security to identify and deport those would-be caregivers who were in the country illegally. It meant that immigrant parents who came to the U.S. and then later sent for their children to cross the border faced possible deportation when they tried to pick up their children from Health and Human Services custody.

United Peace Collaborative

We focus on making the maximum positive effort for our community. Our members and volunteers provide the momentum that helps us affect change. Using data driven models, we provide solutions that make a long-lasting difference. Build a stronger Chinese/Asian Community in SF & elsewhere. Assist seniors, women, children, and the disabled. Tasks: Educate Asians about basic rights as Americans, inform people what are reportable crimes, give info and resources to people who have needs.

Archive – Oakland clinic offers Mayan interpreter for COVID-19 vaccinations

3/19/21 This month, La Clinica de La Raza began offering the community-targeted vaccination service at 32 locations across the Bay Area, including ASCEND Elementary School on East 12th Street, where Latinos who speak Mam, K’iche ‘and Q’eqchi’ can get translation help from appointment to inoculation on Thursdays.
There are over 22 different Mam dialects spoken primarily by people of Guatemalan and Mexican descent. According to a recent UC San Francisco study, Mayan people with Guatemalan roots are the fastest-growing ethnic group in Oakland.

Biden rolls back Trump’s tougher citizenship test

2/22/21 The Biden administration will offer the option for applicants to select the 2008 civics examination. Announced in a Policy Alert on Monday, the civics examination requirement implemented in December 2020 will switch to an earlier version implemented in 2008. The 2020 civic exam featured 128 possible questions on the exam. With Biden’s new order, it will switch to the 100 possible questions seen in the 2008 version.
Some content will be altered as well. The policy alert did not specify what these changes would be.

Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans

2/2/21 …Consistent with our character as a Nation of opportunity and of welcome, it is essential to ensure that our laws and policies encourage full participation by immigrants, including refugees, in our civic life; that immigration processes and other benefits are delivered effectively and efficiently; and that the Federal Government eliminates sources of fear and other barriers that prevent immigrants from accessing government services available to them.

Expedited Licensure Process for Refugees, Asylees, and Holders of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)

Beginning January 1, 2021, individuals in with refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status, who apply for licensure by the Board of Registered Nursing may seek an expedited licensure process. In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide evidence of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package.

SCC OIR Newsletter: February 2021

Including OIR’s Statement of Solidarity with Our Asian Community Members *** Immigration Update – Biden Administration Actions & Announcements *** Remembering Three Prominent Community Leaders who Passed Away, Their Legacy Lives On. Karita Hummer, Father Bill Leininger and Fred Hirsch ***
Announcements: Public Health orders allow essential volunteers helping nonprofits distribute food necessities. Sign up here to support our community! #SiliconValleyStrong *** Santa Clara County COVID-19 Vaccination: Please visit the Santa Clara County Public Health website to learn more about vaccination distribution in our communities.
Key Words: Pandemic

As COVID-19 relief vote nears, undocumented immigrants struggle with no aid

3/4/21 There are approximately 7 million undocumented immigrants working in the United States, making up 4.4% of the workforce, according to a 2020 Center for American Progress report. Because of their immigration status, they do not qualify for unemployment benefits if they lose their job.
But it’s not just undocumented immigrants themselves who have faced difficulty receiving aid. There are around 16.7 million people in America who have at least one undocumented family member living with them, according to the Center For American Progress. People in these mixed-status families, such as when some are citizens and some are DACA recipients but file taxes with a family member who doesn’t have a Social Security number, also have struggled to receive benefits.

USCIS – Public Charge Update

3/12/21 USCIS is no longer applying the August 2019 Public Charge Final Rule. As a consequence, among other changes, USCIS will apply the public charge inadmissibility statute consistent with the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. In other words, USCIS is not considering an applicant’s receipt of Medicaid (except for long-term institutionalization at the government’s expense), public housing, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination. Multi-language: Spanish

What AB 60 License Holders Need to Know About Real ID

10/2/20 Report from CA Immigration Policy Center (CIPC) – REAL ID is one type of identification that can also function as a driver’s license. The REAL ID Act was a law passed by Congress in 2005. It created a new standard for state-issued driver’s licenses and identity cards to meet federal requirements. REAL ID driver’s licenses and identity cards can be used as ID to board domestic flights within the United States or to enter some federal facilities like federal courthouses and military bases. If you, or someone you know, is an AB60 license holder, this is what you need to know.

How California’s Law Enforcement Agencies Continue Working with ICE

10-8-20 TWO YEARS AFTER THE SIGNING OF
THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT – Following the 2016 presidential election, California passed SB 54 (2017), the California Values Act, (“the Values Act”)”the strongest anti-deportation law in the country. The previous year, California passed AB 2792 (2016), the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds Act (“the TRUTH Act”), ensuring that immigrants in local law enforcement custody know their rights and provide consent before being subject to an interview with an ICE officer. Key Words: RRN, KYR

Archive – BUILDING IMMIGRANT POWER FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK

2/21 CIPC Blueprint for the Nation includes a vision along with concrete policy priorities for five issue areas in New York and California that are critical to immigrant communities: Creating Healthy Communities; Building Political Power and Guaranteed Civil Rights; Ending State Support for Detention, Deportation and Mass Incarceration; Ensuring Economic Justice and Good Jobs; and Quality Education. Key Words: Demographics, legal,

SCC OIR Newsletter – December 2020

Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations Holiday message in English, Spanish and Tagalog – OIR sends our gratitude and extends solidarity to all who have been supporting emergency response efforts over the last nine months and everyone who has worked tirelessly to support our most vulnerable Black and Brown families in the greatest time of need.
And despite the hardships, we are hopeful that we will continue to reimagine a more just, equitable and humane world. We write to you today with a message of love. We will get through this, together.

SCC OIR Newsletter: November 2020

Post Election Statement – In the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations, we are committed to the following Equity values:
Justice for all.
The pursuit of peace and happiness.
Hard work and reaching our fullest potential by building a system free from domination, oppression, and exploitation.
EVERYONE has the right to exist free from fear, trauma, pain, and suffering.
Immigrants enrich our communities and we should decolonize our views of world regions they come from.
We must move forward, TOGETHER.
The time to do the right things is always now.
We WILL NOT stay silent in the face of injustice.

SCC OIR Newsletter: September 2020

In celebration of Welcoming Week 2020, the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations partnered with Factr’s Footprints Guild to celebrate immigrant artists. Visit the newly created virtual art gallery focused on Creating Home Together.
The Footprints Guild brings together artists and artisans from around the world and helps them in entrepreneurship at the community scale. This micro-enterprise project allows the artists to present their work in the marketplace to encourage self-sufficiency and realization. It showcases the diversity of the community and enhances the cultural education of the greater community.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Based in Santa Clara, CA, CAIR-SFBA is America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, with regional offices nationwide.
Our mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. The CAIR-SFBA office is now offering low-cost or pro bono legal assistance for citizenship, adjustment of status, family petitions, asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), T-Visas, U-Visas, and Violence against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions, Asylum, Afghan SIV
Request Legal Assistance |
Report an Incident of racial or religious discrimination or Request Legal Services
Key Words: KYR, Hate Crime, Muslim,

‘I Will Not Stand Silent.’ 10 Asian Americans Reflect on Racism During the Pandemic and the Need for Equality

6/25/20 Today, as the U.S. struggles to combat a global pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 120,000 Americans and put millions out of work, President Donald Trump, who has referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus” and more recently the “kung flu” has helped normalize anti-Asian xenophobia, stoking public hysteria and racist attacks. And now, as in the past, it’s not just Chinese Americans receiving the hatred. Racist aggressors don’t distinguish between different ethnic subgroups”anyone who is Asian or perceived to be Asian at all can be a victim. Even wearing a face mask, an act associated with Asians before it was recommended in the U.S., could be enough to provoke an attack. Key Words: Hate Crimes

Archive – U.S. Legalization and the Unauthorized Immigrant Groups that Could Factor in the Debate

2/1/21 The Biden administration has unveiled a framework for a pathway to citizenship for unauthorized
immigrants, urging Congress to take up legalization. This Migration Policy Institute (MPI) report provides an analysis of the composition and characteristics of the unauthorized immigrant population in the US today. It also takes stock of the legalization options that exist, particularly amid growing calls to recognize the role immigrants, including the unauthorized, have played in providing essential
services during the COVID-19 pandemic and their
outsized vulnerability to the disease. Key Words: Demographics, Undocumented

Immigration Policy Tracking Project

2/21 This “TrumpTracker” Immigration Policy Tracking Project catalogues every known Trump-era immigration policy from January 2017 through the end of the administration.
Entries describing Trump policies contain the official source documents, are catalogued by date under “view all policies,” and are searchable by subject area, agency affected, type of action, and other categories.
Biden administration actions that affect or rescind Trump-era policies are prominently noted under the individual policy entries. An overview of Biden announcements appears on the summaries page.

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC )

LSPC organizes communities impacted by the criminal justice system and advocates to release incarcerated people, to restore human and civil rights, and to reunify families and communities. We build public awareness of structural racism in policing, the courts, and the prison system, and we advance racial and gender justice in all our work. We do not provide direct services or take on individual legal cases. However, we are able to provide informational manuals and referrals to other legal services.
Love Without Borders: An International & Interstate Family Law Manual (2018) (also in Spanish)

Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the US

2/11/21 Key Statistics on Immigrants in the US ted in One Useful Resource
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) today published the latest version of its perennially popular resource, Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States, which features a wealth of data about the U.S. immigrant population as well as current and historic migration to the United States. Key Words: Disaster

How Biden Can Restore Humanitarian Protection at the Border

1/5/21 Asylum seekers represent a small fraction of the people who come to the United States each year, yet previous administrations have feared their arrival.
This crisis-based mindset has fueled ever-increasing brutality at the border, with family detention eventually metastasizing into family separation. But despite the Trump administration’s torturous and cruel policies, people have continued to seek protection at our border. Keu Words: Immigrants, Immigrants

Human Trafficking: Coordinating a California Response

6/20 In this report, we examine what is known about the extent of the problem in California and find that little
authoritative data exists to explain where and how frequently this crime occurs across our state. We also explain how labor trafficking is a form of human trafficking that often is hidden, sometimes in plain sight. But that the
consequences of this crime are severe for the men and women forced to endure exploitative work, whether in
a home, a restaurant, a building site, or a factory. The Commission recommends California create an entity to
coordinate anti-trafficking activities statewide, as other states have done, and suggests remedies to enhance our
understanding of this crime and our ability to fight it.

REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions

After the May 7, 2025 deadline, Federal agencies, including DHS and TSA, may only accept state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards as identification to access federal facilities – including TSA airport security checkpoints – if it was issued by a REAL ID compliant state (meaning the license or card must include the REAL ID compliant star marking). Additional questions may be sent to the Department of Homeland Security at REALID@hq.dhs.gov

Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version) English/Spanish

Beginning on April 19, 2021, USCIS is administering only the 2008 civics test to N-400 applicants at their initial interview appointment, regardless of their filing date. USCIS will no longer offer the 2020 civics test at the initial interview, but will continue to provide study materials for the 2020 test for those applicants who are eligible to choose between the 2008 or 2020 civics test at their re-exam or N-336 hearing.
Spanish

KIND Report- Concrete Steps to Protect Unaccompanied Children on the Move

2020 The KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) Blueprint for the protection of unaccompanied children provides guidance on how the U.S. government
should uphold its responsibility to treat these children humanely and in accordance with the law and this country’s ideals. Their unique vulnerabilities require a legal and policy framework that provides enhanced procedural safeguards and protection mechanisms essential to helping unaccompanied children overcome daunting obstacles to relief. Key Words: Advocacy