Updates from Our Office
Baltimore Immigrant Community Fund: Safe City Baltimore Fundraiser
Over the past few months, our immigrant communities have faced increasing uncertainty. Escalating enforcement efforts and the removal of federal funding have disrupted essential services and put families at risk of separation and hardship.
In the face of these challenges, our office is taking steps to minimize the damaging impact of federal policies in our communities. Safe City Baltimore has been revamped and reactivated, building on the vital work we began in 2017 in response to a rise in arrests. The renewed Safe City Baltimore initiative seeks to raise funds to provide a safety net for immigrant families through education, legal support, and family assistance.
Your contribution helps to ensure that immigrant families in Baltimore have access to the support, protection, and dignity that they deserve. Please consider donating or connecting us with potential funders who share our commitment to immigrant justice. Find more information on this flyer.
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 Thank You for a Wonderful Immigration Summit
Thank you to our attendees, presenters, volunteers, staff, and committee for an uplifting and record-setting 2025 Baltimore Immigration Summit! We were proud to bring together so many passionate individuals for Baltimore United: Solidarity and Action in Uncertain Times to engage in timely conversations about what we can do as a community to stand up for our immigrant and refugee neighbors.
Save the date for next year’s summit, taking place on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Morgan State University. We look forward to seeing you there!
New American Leadership Institute (NALI) Accepting Applications
The New American Leadership Academy (NALI) is a free four-session civics academy for emerging leaders from immigrant and refugee communities. Participants leave the program equipped to serve as ambassadors for their communities, having had the opportunity learn about local governance, hone leadership skills, network with peers, and engage in civic participation. Participants must live or work within Baltimore City.
 Introducing Our Summer Interns
Christopher Amanat is joining MIMA as a Community Outreach intern for the 2025 summer session. A rising sophomore at Johns Hopkins University, he is majoring in History and Critical Diaspora Studies. Christopher will support MIMA with data management and represent MIMA at community stakeholder events. He is a voracious reader who also enjoys exploring museums and botanical gardens.
Alison Coria Tarazona is a rising sophomore at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track with a minor in Accounting and Financial Management. Originally from Northern Virginia, she is the child of Bolivian and Peruvian parents and brings a strong interest in public service and cross-cultural engagement. At MIMA, Alison will support communications initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys staying active, whether going for an outdoor run or practicing cultural dances.
Makaila Hyman is a rising senior at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Political Science. A proud Baltimore native, Makaila is passionate about public interest law and local policy. At MIMA, she will support the Baltimore City Hispanic Commission in identifying key issues impacting the rights and needs of the Hispanic community. In this role, she contributes to the Commission’s mission of advising the Mayor, City Agencies, and City Council on the development of policies and programs that serve Baltimore’s Hispanic residents.
Krisna Kumar joins MIMA as an intern for the summer of 2025. She is a rising sophomore at Johns Hopkins University majoring in International Studies and Political Science while minoring in Spanish for the Professions. She will participate in community outreach work and events during her time at MIMA. She looks forward to being involved in her city’s government and learning more about immigration.
Volunteer with Our Office
If you are looking for ways to get involved and support your immigrant neighbors, MIMA is seeking dedicated individuals to join our volunteer team.
As a volunteer, you can assist in various programs and initiatives to provide vital support, remotely or in-person (based on your preferences and our office’s needs). Your involvement will directly contribute to empowering immigrant communities to thrive. Join us in making a difference!
Community Resource Guide
With the current federal administration, there have been many shifts in the immigration policy landscape. Please see the “National Developments” section below for a summary of federal actions that may impact our communities. Additionally, please continue consulting our office’s guide to services and resources.
City Services
Welcome Works Hiring Event for Immigrants and Refugees
Join the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development for a job fair designed to empower Baltimore’s immigrant and refugee communities. Connect directly with employers, explore job openings, and access community resources that support your career journey. Welcome Works will be held July 29 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Register with this form.
City Pools Open for the 2025 Season
We are excited to welcome you to our pools! Throughout the city, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) has twenty-three indoor and outdoor pools that serve our swimmers annually. Join us for open swimming or for one of our many other aquatic programs that we have to offer. In order to use Baltimore City pools, you must have a civic rec account. Please create your account online prior to arrival. No registration is needed. For questions and concerns, please call 443-677-2418. Find locations, hours, and pool rules on the BCRP website.
Annual Sustainability Open House
Join the Baltimore Office of Sustainability on June 28 for an exciting afternoon at the Carroll Park Recreation Center as we celebrate the incredible sustainability efforts taking place across Baltimore. Enjoy free refreshments, games, and activities. Connect with local organizations, learn about climate action, and find out about how you can get involved. Register on the Eventbrite page.
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Family Caregivers Conference
Join the Baltimore City Health Department on June 30 for the 2025 Baltimore City Family Caregivers Conference! This conference is designed to support and empower caregivers, whether you're caring for older adults, grandchildren, or loved ones with disabilities.
This day will focus on strengthening your well-being, both physical and mental. Expect valuable resources, expert-led sessions, and a community of support to help you feel more equipped for your caregiving journey. Register on the BCHD website.
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Department of Public Works (DPW) Sanitation Yards Closed for Juneteenth Holiday
Juneteenth is Thursday, June 19. As a City-observed holiday, DPW sanitation yards will be closed. Trash and recycling collections will not take place on the Juneteenth holiday closure. The trash and recycling make-up day is Saturday, June 21. There will not be street sweeping during the Juneteenth closure.
DPW facilities closed on Juneteenth to residents and haulers include:
- Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road
- Quarantine Road Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Road
- Northwest Residential Recycling Center, 2840 Sisson Street
- Southwestern Residential Recycling Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue
- Eastern Residential Recycling Center, 6101 Bowleys Lane
Extended summer hours for DPW Residential Drop-off Centers are now in effect from 9 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Saturday. These extended summer hours are effective until Labor Day, Monday, September 1.
The City’s 311 call center is open on Juneteenth from 6 AM to 10 PM. DPW reminds residents and water customers to report water or sewer emergencies to the City’s 311 call center.
B’More Fresh Provides Additional Food Assistance for SNAP Recipients
Baltimore City residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can earn $30 per month to purchase fruits and vegetables when they shop online with a participating grocery store. After spending $5 on SNAP-eligible items, shoppers will receive a $30 produce voucher in their online account. Visit the B’More Fresh Voucher Program website for more information.
Discount on Water Bills Available for Certain Households through Water4All
Water4All is a program that offers discounts on water bills for eligible Baltimore City residents. Baltimore City residential households who meet income and certain other requirements are eligible. Visit the Water4All website for more information on eligibility and to apply.
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Buy Back the Block Grants Available for Homebuyers
The Buy Back the Block program provides grants to Baltimore City residents who rent and purchase a home within the grant-eligible Baltimore City area. These grants do not require repayment.
The $10,000 “Home Purchase” grant reduces upfront costs for purchasing a home, while the $20,000 “Home Purchase and Renovation” grant reduces upfront costs if you are renovating in addition to purchasing a home. To find out if you are eligible, visit the Buy Back the Block webpage. Information about this program in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and French.
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Local Events and Resources
Lawyer in the Library: Immigration Information
Legal practitioners from Just Neighbors and World Relief will be available to speak with individuals seeking information on immigration-related matters. Practitioners can provide general information on basic immigration-related inquiries, distribute informational materials, provide referrals, and more. Services will be available in Spanish.
These sessions are hosted at the Southeast Anchor Library, every other Wednesday from 11 AM to 2 PM, with upcoming dates on June 25 and July 9.
Free, Three-Year College Prep Program for Latina High School Freshmen
¡Adelante Latina! is a free, after-school academic enrichment and college access program for promising Latina girls attending Baltimore City high schools. Apply by attending an information session at your school. Contact Leonor Blum at blumle@adelantelatina.com with questions, and learn more on the Adelante Latina website.
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Get Help Buying Groceries This Summer with Maryland SUN Bucks
Maryland SUN Bucks helps families with school-aged children who receive free or reduced-price meals buy groceries during the summer break when school meals are unavailable. Families who qualify for the Maryland SUN Bucks program will receive $40 for June, July, and August (a total of $120) for each eligible student. Enroll by August 31 to receive benefits for the summer of 2025.
Find information in English and Spanish on the Maryland Department of Human Services website. If you have any questions, call 1-800-332-6347 and select the Maryland SUN Bucks option.
Free Books at Book Thing of Baltimore
The Book Thing of Baltimore is hosting its monthly book giveaway event, open to the public, on Sunday, June 29! Community members are allowed to take as many books as they can carry, free of charge, and are allowed approximately one hour to browse the available books. You can also donate books. Read the detailed event announcement on the Book Thing’s website.
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No-Cost Cancer Screenings at the Baltimore City Cancer Program
Early cancer detection saves lives! That’s why detecting cancer early through screening increases your chance of beating cancer after diagnosis. Regular cancer screening is the key to early detection.
If you, someone you love, or someone you know needs breast, cervical or colon cancer screening, the Baltimore City Cancer Program (BCCP) offers high quality, no-cost services to those without insurance or anyone in need of additional support in metropolitan Baltimore.
To enroll and set up an appointment, call 410-328-4673. Services provided in English and Spanish.
Virtual, Spanish-Speaking Mindfulness Series
Join this free six-week mindfulness series in Spanish. Hosted by the Center for Mindful Living, these classes are designed to support Spanish-speaking migrants in cultivating tools for stress reduction and emotional well-being. The classes will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday nights at 6 PM. Find more information on the Center’s website.
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What They Left Us: A Group Exhibition by Filipino American Artists
What They Left Us brings together eight Filipino American artists to consider how art becomes a means of holding onto and reshaping what is passed down. Through painting, photography, sculpture, video, and performance, this exhibition explores how cultural inheritance and the unspoken labor of belonging are shaped by migration.
The exhibition runs from July 3 to August 2 at the Alchemy of Art, and an opening reception will be held Thursday, July 3, from 6 to 9 PM. RSVP on Eventbrite for this free event that will feature music by DJ Tahrook, light food from Mama Rosa Grill, and refreshments from Off the Rox.
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Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano Exhibition at the Walters Arts Museum
Having opened on May 17, Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano presents over two hundred artworks from the museum’s expansive collection of art from South, Central, and North America and the Caribbean in one contiguous space for the first time in the museum’s history.
Encompassing works from forty cultures and spanning more than four millennia, the beautifully reimagined North Court galleries create a space for visitors to engage with the collection through bilingual materials. Find visiting information and English and Spanish materials for the exhibition on the Walters Art Museum website.
Love Your Neighbor Fun Festival
Come one, come all to Just Neighbors’ Love Your Neighbor Fun on June 21 at the Baltimore Unity Hall. This family-friendly event will include fun games, food, activities, and opportunities to win prizes large and small. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under the age of 12, and each ticket comes with a card to play musical bingo.
In addition to the fun and games, a short program will highlight the work of Just Neighbors, a non-profit organization that provides immigration legal services in the DMV area. Find more information and purchase tickets on the event page.
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2025 AFRAM Festival
Celebrate at AFRAM, one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast! Hosted from June 21 to June 22 at Druid Hill Park, this event elevates cultures and unites communities. For two days, people from all walks of life come together to enjoy national entertainment, local eats, and much more. Find more information on the festival’s event page.
Small Business Grants Available through Verizon’s Digital Ready program
Verizon’s Digital Ready program is awarding $10,000 grants to fifty small businesses. Your business can be one of them. Register, find free resources, and apply for the grant by June 30 on Verizon’s Digital Ready website.
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National Developments
Judicial Immigration Updates
Lawsuits have been filed against many of the current federal administration’s actions related to immigration. Follow the development of these and other lawsuits at the Just Security Litigation Tracker.
Executive Immigration Updates
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Updates
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Venezuela: In May, the Supreme Court of the U.S. reversed the decision of a lower court to block the termination of the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuelan nationals, allowing the termination to proceed. Litigation continues, and as of late May, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has yet to post guidance on this situation. The 2021 TPS designation for Venezuelan nationals remains valid through September 10, 2025.
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Afghanistan: Termination of TPS designation for Afghan nationals is set to expire on July 14, 2025.
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Cameroon: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indicated their intention to terminate TPS designation for Cameroonian nationals, but a formal notice has yet to be published as of late May.
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South Sudan: TPS designation for South Sudanese nationals has been automatically extended through November 3, 2025.
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Haiti: Extension of TPS designation for Haitian nationals was reduced from eighteen to twelve months and is now set to expire on August 3, 2025. Haitian nationals are still able to submit initial and renewal applications. Litigation is currently pending on this matter.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Welfare Checks: Following media reports in April of HSI agents attempting to gain access to private residences and schools under the pretense of “wellness” or “welfare” checks on unaccompanied immigrant children, an internal memo was leaked confirming this enforcement strategy. HSI is a division of the Department of Homeland Security that typically conducts criminal probes. The welfare of unaccompanied minors falls within the Office of Refugee Resettlement, under the Department of Health and Human Services. Consult this guidance from the American Bar Association for English and Spanish resources for your rights in cases of potential HSI “welfare checks.”
“Self-Deportation” Myth: The federal administration is encouraging individuals without status to “self-deport,” or voluntarily leave the U.S., using the CBP Home App (formerly the CBP One App). The administration has announced a modest financial incentive for such cases. However, immigration advocates do not believe individuals are likely to either receive the incentive or eventually be able to apply for legal status, as the administration has suggested. Leaving without a prior order for removal can have serious consequences, including a ban on re-entering the U.S. for a set period, often three or ten years, or even permanently. It can also complicate future visa applications. Consult an immigration attorney before voluntarily leaving without a prior order for removal.
ICE Arrests at Immigration Court: In recent weeks, USCIS and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly have been coordinating to arrest individuals at their immigration court appearances. ICE officers in at least twenty-two states have been directed to arrest people immediately after a judge has ordered them to be deported or prosecutors have moved to drop their case, reports The Washington Post. Reportedly, this strategy is targeting those who fall within the conditions for expedited removal (having less than two years of physical presence in the U.S.). Consult your attorney about the possibilities of a virtual court appearance.
Immigration Bond Support
If you or someone you know need immigration bond support, reach out to the National Bail Fund Network through their intake form.
The National Bail Fund Network, hosted by Community Justice Exchange, is a network of community-based, independent groups that pay pre-trial bail, protest bail, and immigration bond. They coordinate a referral program that helps individuals and organizations seeking support with immigration bond to locate a fund that may be able to help.
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