 Our entire team wishes you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with hope, peace, and joy. May this time remind us of the strength we find in solidarity and the beauty of unity as we continue to support one another and build a welcoming community for all. Happy Holidays!
News Updates
+ South Preston Hwy. Businesses Invited to Showcase Hispanic Culture Through Murals
 Louisville Metro’s Office for Immigrant Affairs and Office of Strategic Initiatives invite business owners to apply for a mural on their place of business to celebrate the Hispanic community and its contributions along South Preston Highway. Submit your application and ideas to bring this vibrant project to your business!
La Oficina de Asuntos para Inmigrantes de Louisville Metro y la Oficina de Iniciativas Estratégicas invitan a los dueños de negocios a postularse para un mural en su establecimiento para celebrar a la comunidad hispana y sus contribuciones a lo largo de South Preston Highway. ¡Envíe su solicitud e ideas para llevar este vibrante proyecto a su negocio!
+ Join the Next Cohort of Global Louisville Leadership Academy
 The Global Louisville Leadership Academy (GLLA) is now accepting applications for its 2026 cohort. This free leadership training program, sponsored by the Louisville Metro Office for Immigrant Affairs, equips community leaders with the knowledge and networks to advocate for and support their communities. Participants will learn about city government, civic engagement, and leadership while building strong connections with local institutions. Deadline is January 9
+ Connecting Our Community with Food Resources
 The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness created this website to help community members easily find food assistance resources for themselves and their families. The site serves as a centralized hub connecting residents to local agencies offering food support across Louisville.
+ 2026 Cultural Pass Partner registrations have opened!
Cultural Pass provides free access to many of Greater Louisville’s arts and culture institutions for youth ages 0-21. Arts and culture 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations offering arts and/or culture programming during the summer, with a primary place of business in the service region, are encouraged to register.
+ Call for Artists: Celebrating the Black Experience Exhibition
 The Kentucky Arts Council and Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (KCAAH) have teamed up to provide even greater exposure for Celebrating the Black Experience. After its initial showing at KCAAH, the exhibit will travel throughout the state to several additional communities through December 2026. During the application process, artists will choose whether or not they would like their work to be included in the traveling exhibit.
There is a call for artists for the 5th Annual Celebrating the Black Experience Exhibit. Artists interested can submit applications online at Call for Artists Form - Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
Application deadline is January 23. Art for consideration will reflect diverse environments and traditions that contribute to the fabric of the Black experience.
+ News You Can Use
Policy Updates
+ Immigration Policy Tracker
The Immigration Policy Tracking project keeps up with federal agencies' policy memos, executive action, and internal communication.
+ Trump Administration Expands Travel Ban to 39 countries
President Trump issued a proclamation on December 16 that further expands his administration’s travel ban, restricting entry from a total of 39 countries. The order builds on prior iterations of the travel ban by suspending or limiting visa issuance for additional categories of travelers, including many family and employment-based applicants, and by tightening vetting requirements for countries that the administration believes have inadequate information‑sharing or security protocols.
+ DHS Pauses Diversity Visa Program
In response to university shootings at Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered a pause of the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program (AKA Vissa Lottery Program) on December 18. The Secretary linked the suspension to the alleged shooter, a Portuguese national who entered through the diversity visa lottery. The program provides up to 50,000 green cards annually to immigrants from countries with low rates of U.S. immigration.
The DV program was created by Congress in 1990 to diversify lawful immigration flows and operates within the broader quota system that limits each country to seven percent of annual green cards. Those selected may apply for a green card but must undergo vetting to be admitted to the United States.
+ DHS Ends Categorical Family Reunification Parole Programs
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on December 12th that it is ending all categorical family reunification parole (FRP) programs for individuals and their immediate family members from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras. The department stated that these programs do not serve a significant public benefit, are not necessary to reduce levels of unlawful immigration, and are not serving all their intended purposes. The programs allowed certain beneficiaries of approved immigrant visa petitions to enter and wait in the United States with their families while visas became available. The termination will eliminate family reunification programs that have served as a key legal channel for family-based migration.
+ Transportation Security Administration Begins providing ICE with traveler information
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is providing ICE with data on every airline traveler as part of nationwide immigration enforcement efforts. TSA provides a list to ICE multiple times per week so that ICE can then review that information against its own database for people who are removable from the United States.
+ DHS terminates Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on December 12th that it is terminating TPS for individuals from Ethiopia. According to the DHS Secretary, the country no longer meets the conditions for TPS. The termination is effective as of February 13, 2026. According to government data, this could impact approximately 4,500 individuals in the United States.
+ Sign up for LENS Alert
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Text "LENSAlert" to 67283
Events
+ Together We Play Community Play Group
Together We Play is a play group designed to foster connection, creativity, and fun for young children and their caregivers. Through interactive activities, social play, and guided learning experiences, children build friendships and developmental skills in a safe, nurturing environment. It’s a space where families come together to play, grow, and support one another.
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