By Alicia M. Atteberry
At Eagan, we always want the best for our community. We work with many clients who have been or currently are victims of abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking, which is why we try to connect each client with organizations that can provide support beyond legal assistance. In the interest of expanding those recommendations, we have begun creating a list of national and local resources in the United States for the immigrant community. Whether you have legal status in the U.S. or not, there is likely an organization near you that offers community, counseling, or other resources. There are also organizations that work to expand the rights and protections offered to immigrants in the United States. If you want to give back to the community or get involved in making change, many of these organizations also accept donations and welcome volunteers.A great place to start looking for any kind of resource is your local library! Many libraries, especially in major cities, maintain up-to-date lists of resources available to their immigrant community, and some offer ESL courses and tutoring for the citizenship application process.
National Resources
- The federal government: The U.S. government's available resources for immigrants are limited. Even with legal status, there is often a waiting period before most federal programs become available. There are a few key exceptions:
- Emergency Medicaid (if you are eligible for Medicaid in your state): this program provides health care coverage only for emergency medical services.
- Public health programs for vaccination or the treatment of communicable diseases
- School breakfast and lunch programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- TVAP – Trafficking Victim Assistance Program. This program operates within the Department of Health and Human Services and provides case management services to victims of human trafficking, utilizing a broad network of grant-funded support services, such as mental health clinics, short- and long-term housing, job training, and financial counseling.
- The Department of Education also has a directory of resources available for immigrants of all ages who wish to continue their studies: Educational resources for immigrants, refugees, asylees, and other new Americans
- International Rescue Committee “provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in the United States.” Navigate to “Where we work” to find an office in your area.
- Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC, for its acronym in English) connects a national network of smaller organizations and provides a wealth of information and resources for immigrants. Legal advice goes far beyond helping you adjust your status: for example, this article reviews which states have programs to allow professional and occupational licenses for immigrants.
- Raza Development Fund “Our mission is to deploy capital and create financial solutions to build generational wealth for Latino and marginalized families nationwide.” RDF partners with leading banks to provide financial support to entrepreneurs in the Latino community.
- Restaurant Opportunities Centers United It is an organization that offers training for recent immigrants, preparing them for jobs as waiters, bartenders, and other food service roles, including offering ESL courses. They also advocate for service workers' rights and have chapters in several states and major cities.
- The Hispanic Federation It began in New York City, but is now a national non-profit organization that works to advance the Hispanic community by supporting families and strengthening Latino institutions with a multifaceted approach that includes education, social services, grants, and political advocacy.
Local resources:
- New York City area
- New York City has many Resources for Immigrants, and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development it has even more programs focused on the needs of immigrant children and families.
- El Centro NYC It is an immigrant organization in Staten Island that promotes the economic and social well-being of immigrant workers and their families through community building, employment, and education.
- Immigration Equality It focuses on supporting the LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrant community with direct legal defense and campaigns for humane treatment.
- The Laundry Workers Center, despite its name, now advocates for many service industry workers in New York City and New Jersey, organizing to fight for better working and living conditions for low-wage workers and the immigrant community.
- Safe Horizon Protects, supports, and advocates for victims of crime and domestic violence throughout New York City, partnering with government and community-based organizations.
- Pennsylvania
- The Service Center for Nationalities “transforms compassion for immigrants and refugees into action” with comprehensive social services, employment assistance, and youth programs, in addition to ESL classes and legal services.
- Justice at Work it is a legal aid organization that provides free assistance to Pennsylvania workers, especially farmworkers and other low-wage workers.
- HIAS Pennsylvania provides social and legal services to low-risk and at-risk immigrants, in addition to organizing political campaigns and volunteer services.
- Bridges of Health “promotes the health and well-being of Philadelphia's growing Latino immigrant population with healthcare, community, and education.
- The Immigration Program of the Diocese of Scranton is a Catholic social services program and accredited immigration services provider in Scranton
- American South.: (15)
- Virginia
- Help, based in Alexandria, “provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our neighborhoods access justice and transform their lives.”.
- Hogar Immigrant Services In Manassas and Falls Church, there is a Catholic organization that supports the immigrant community with citizenship workshops, ESOL classes, and legal assistance.
- ReEstablish Richmond is “connecting refugees and new immigrants with the resources needed to establish roots, build community, and become self-sufficient.”.
- Georgia
- The Latino Community Fund (LCF Georgia) it is a “catalyst for investment, collaborative work, and a positive narrative for the Latino/Hispanic community in Georgia.”.
- The Latin American Association offers services for Latinos in Georgia, such as legal assistance, housing assistance, student tutoring, economic development, and job fairs, in addition to community cultural events.
- North Carolina
- The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Immigrant Resources page includes resources developed in collaboration with the USCIS Charlotte Field Office
- The Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network also has a directory of resources and organizations that offer help or community to immigrant and Latino communities.
- The City of Raleigh has a directory of Hispanic-Latin Initiatives (Bilingual Information) with the goal of helping to involve and integrate the Hispanic Latino community in their neighborhoods and in city programs and services.
- The Mission of Hola Carolina “improve the health and well-being of our community by fostering cultural connections, embracing diversity, and promoting economic vitality,” using Spanish-language media, arts and cultural initiatives, economic empowerment, and services that expand health, transportation, and food access for the underserved.
- Florida
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools UP-START Project supports children enrolled in Miami-Dade schools experiencing unstable housing with special evaluations, after-school programs, and additional help so that children can keep learning.
- The Family Action Network Movement It was founded in 1991 to support the Haitian community, but now advocates for all low-income, immigrant, and marginalized residents, and provides many support services such as mental health access, crisis intervention, job training, and financial education.
- Let's count! It is a group of immigrant workers in South Florida that focuses on organizing construction, domestic, and agricultural workers to advocate for the enforcement and expansion of their rights.
- Home – Florida Immigrant Coalition It is an immigrant rights coalition that works to defend the immigrant community throughout Florida. Although it is not a legal organization, they also operate “Citizenship Campaigns” to help LPRs apply for citizenship, along with other informational sessions that focus on Temporary Protected Status, Parole in Place, immigrant rights, and other resources.
- Texas
- ROOTS (Center for Refugee and Immigrant Legal Services), based in San Antonio, operates throughout Texas, advocating for immigrant rights at the state and national levels, as well as providing legal and social services to immigrants and refugees.
- The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative aims to improve the lives of immigrants in the Houston area through referrals, disaster resources, legal services, and assistance in accessing public support programs.
- MIDWEST:
- Chicago
- National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) “NIJC offers legal consultations and representation for low-income immigrants seeking a wide range of legal immigration relief.”.
- Heartland Human Care Services – A comprehensive social services organization offering assistance with housing, financial counseling, job training, immigration assistance, and child welfare programs.
- World Relief Chicagoland a church-based organization that provides extensive social services, working “alongside refugees and other immigrants in vulnerable situations as they rebuild their lives in the United States.”.
- Romer Center– Named after the Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero and operating on the North Side of Chicago, this organization provides adult education, legal assistance, public benefit case management, and programs for women and youth.
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- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is “dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.”.
- About the Albany Park Workers Center It was founded in 2004 by a group of day laborers to “create a safer and less hectic alternative to street corner hiring.” Today, they continue that mission by connecting workers with employers and providing interim skills and safety training, while helping workers fight against wage theft.
- The Project of Farmworker and Landscaper Defense aims to “improve working conditions and opportunities for low-income workers and their households in the canning, agriculture, greenhouse, landscaping, meat, nursery, packinghouse, poultry, restaurant, and snow removal industries” through legal advocacy, outreach, and education.
- Michigan
- Multicultural Center La Familia: offers free or low-cost access to mental health services, health education, and vaccination campaigns, as well as help with translation, paperwork, and referrals to other services.
- Michigan United It is a political organization that advocates for specific changes to state laws and policies. “Guided by the principles of justice, respect, transparency, collaboration, and love, we work tirelessly to break down barriers and foster a more inclusive society.” Its immigrant rights arm is currently campaigning to make driver’s licenses available to all residents, regardless of their immigration status.
- Hispanic Center of West Michigan (Grand Rapids), “Empowering the Hispanic community to achieve equity, self-sufficiency, and personalized prosperity.” This organization offers a wide range of social services, including immigration counseling, mental health and social services, employment assistance, skills training and professional development, translation services, and assistance with school enrollment for all ages.
- Samaritans (formerly Lutheran Social Services) is a social services organization that serves refugees and new Americans in the states of Michigan. They offer support in finding housing, employment, and education.
- Minnesota
- International Institute of Minnesota It offers a wide range of social services to the immigrant and refugee community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. In addition to social services, job training, and mental health care, they also coordinate housing to help refugees and survivors of human trafficking restart their lives.
- The Minnesota Immigrant Legal Center It is a non-profit organization that provides free immigration legal representation or referrals to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.
- WESTERN U.S..:
- Chicanos por la Causa It has offices throughout the Southwest and clients across the country. They offer so many different services—ranging from small-business loans and political lobbying to substance abuse counseling and early childhood development programs—that we won't list them all here. Chances are, they can help you.
- Northwest
- The mission of Casa Latina is “promoting the power of Latino immigrants through educational and economic opportunities.” Based in Seattle, they offer English classes, job assistance, and job training, and promote community organizing.
- Latino Leadership Northwest works with students and youth of the Latino community in Vancouver, WA, and the surrounding areas, to foster leadership and personal development.
- Safe Route Immigration – a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest, provides accessible legal services to refugees and immigrants in Portland, Beaverton, McMinnville, and Salem, Oregon, along with Vancouver, Tacoma, and Seattle, Washington.
- Arizona
- Breath it is an undocumented and DACA-focused organization that works to “nurture human potential regardless of immigration status.” Its advocacy work has recently helped secure in-state tuition at Arizona public universities for DACA recipients.
- RICE (Refugee and Immigrant Community for Empowerment) aims to develop self-sufficiency in the immigrant and refugee community with a wide variety of classes, ranging from ESL and GED training to professional skills training for dental assistants. They also have programs to support the elderly and case management for those who need help accessing public programs.
- The Bridge Movement for Migrant Justice focuses on supporting “migrant communities in Arizona, including day laborers, undocumented individuals, mixed-status families,” and youth with legal clinics for those facing deportation, the exposure of human rights violations, and the cultivation of solidarity and community.
- California
- San Diego Rapid Response Network It focuses on helping those who have recently crossed the border in the San Diego border region. Focusing on asylum seekers, they also provide legal support to fight against family separation and unjust deportation.
- La Raza Community Resource Center provides legal and social services to San Francisco’s Latino and immigrant communities, including a food pantry, legal advocates, mental health referrals, and assistance with applying for grants.
- CHIRLA, the Coalition for Immigrants' Human Rights, is based in Los Angeles and offers legal services, as well as political organizing and community engagement programs.
- SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network), that operates in the Bay Area and Fresno, focuses on promoting the rights and prosperity of immigrants through community education and organizing, leadership development, legal services, policy advocacy, and civic engagement.
- Colorado
- Immigrant Health Coalition Working to ensure the safety and well-being of Colorado's immigrants and their families by ensuring everyone can meet their health needs.
- Utah
