We know that many in our community are facing uncertainty and challenges as changes continue to unfold. At the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, we remain committed to providing resources, information, and spaces for connection to help navigate this moment. In this newsletter, you’ll find updates, events, and tools we hope will be useful—whether for you, your family, or those you support. Together, we will continue to push forward and find strength in our shared resilience.
As we look ahead, we also want to share an important update: the search for a permanent Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement is beginning. While I have decided not to apply for the permanent role, I remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition and supporting the selection of the right leader for this critical position.
ODHS will be conducting outreach as part of the recruitment process, and we encourage community partners to get involved. We hope to have a new Director in late summer. If you’d like to connect to discuss further, please let us know.
With gratitude,
Cheryl Miller, Interim Director OIRA
|
There are many changes happening and updates to information change quickly. A daily update we've found valuable is the Daily Media Clips on immigration news from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. We hope this is helpful.
Connecting with community partners and members in late February also offered an opportunity to share and collect informative resources for people we work with. We have created a resource overview on our webpage to help under "New Arrivals".
Looking for applicants to the Immigrant/Refugee Student Success Advisory Group -- applications due April 9, 2025
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is seeking passionate individuals—including students, educators, and community members—to serve on this advisory group. Members will help guide the implementation of the Immigrant/Refugee Student Success Plan, ensuring that policies, programs, and investments effectively support immigrant and refugee students across Oregon.
|
The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement is excited to announce that we have received a small grant from our national partner, the Office of New Americans Network, to promote immigrant inclusion across the state. The Office will utilize this grant to partner with immigrant serving organizations and institutions in two rural communities, Northeastern Oregon’s Umatilla and Morrow Counties and Southern Oregon’s Jackson and Josephine Counties, to better understand existing barriers to equitable service delivery.
 Lutheran Community Services Northwest Citizenship Program is excited to offer FREE Citizenship classes and N-400 application services with the assistance of our experienced immigration specialists.
Please help us spread the word!
The Spring Term will begin on Saturday, April 5, 2025. We will be offering both remote and in-person classes. Please note that all remote classes will meet in person for the first and last sessions. Classes will be conducted in English and run for 12 weeks. New students are welcome to join within the first three weeks of the term.
We are also thrilled to announce a new in-person class in McMinnville!
Eligibility:
Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship 90 days before their 5-year anniversary, or their 3-year anniversary if they are married to a U.S. citizen.
How to Sign Up:
- Complete the "New Student Form" for registration.
- After submission, you will receive a follow-up email from me.
For any questions or additional information, please feel free to reach out to me at oyeager@lcsnw.org or call 503-731-9583.
|
