Welcoming Washington:

Updates From the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance

April 2025 Newsletter

Highlights

Recent Federal Changes Affecting Refugees and Immigrants in Washington

• Change in Benefit Period for Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance
  On March 21, 2025, the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement announced Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance will be shortened from 12 months to four months. With this change, people who arrive or become eligible for federal refugee benefits on or after May 5, 2025, will receive four months of assistance. People currently receiving Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance, or those who are eligible before May 5, 2025, will still receive the full 12 months of assistance.
• Termination of Parole Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans
  On March 25, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan parole program, also known as the CHNV parole program. Parole for people who arrived through this program will be terminated on April 24, 2025, if it has not already expired before then. This change may affect people’s ability to access refugee benefits and services. People may be eligible for services under the Washington Migrant and Asylum Seeker Support project.  

• Federal Funding Ending for Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children
  On March 21, 2025, the Acacia Center for Justice announced the Office of Refugee Resettlement contracts for legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children have been terminated. This affects funding for over 26,000 children who receive legal representation through these programs nationally. Unaccompanied children in Washington state may be able to receive other support services through the Unaccompanied Children Support Services program or the Washington Migrant and Asylum Seeker Support project.

Please reach out to ORIAinfo@dshs.wa.gov with any questions regarding these changes.

Family Separation Response Task Force

At the end of January 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson created a Family Separation Response task force through Executive Order 25-04. The goal of the task force is to create policies and procedures to help children who are separated from their families as a result of detention or deportation. Representatives from the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance are participating in the task force along with others from several government agencies and state partners.

The task force has met three times so far, on Feb. 11, March 4 and March 25, 2025. To view the meeting minutes or learn more about the task force, visit this web page.

Atifa’s Story The video “Safe Route Immigration and Atifa” shares the story of Atifa, an Afghan woman who came to the U.S. in October 2021. Atifa received support from Lutheran Community Services Northwest’s Immigration-Related Legal Services program, which is funded through the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance. ORIA contracts with numerous organizations across Washington state to provide immigration-related legal services. Find more information about ORIA’s Immigration-Related Legal Services program and providers on our website.

News and Updates

Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity

The Port of Seattle is now accepting applications for its South King County Community Impact Fund, Economic Opportunities for Communities Program, which aims to increase economic opportunities in historically underrepresented communities. A total of $2 million is available for the 2025 application. Organizations can apply for $65,000 - $115,000 for a single year of funding, or $100,000 - $275,000 for multi-year funding, with a maximum of three years. 

Community-based organizations that meet the following requirements may be eligible to apply:

• 501(c)3, 501(c)6 or community organizations with fiscal sponsors.
• Experience and trust with underrepresented communities in southern King County, extending up to Duwamish Valley and Beacon Hill, and in cities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
• Experience with workforce development and career-preparatory and readiness programming in port-related industries.

Applications are due by April 10, 2025. For more information, visit the Port of Seattle’s webpage.

Job Announcements

Nonprofit organization OneAmerica is hiring for two director-level roles in Washington. Both roles are based in the Seattle, Vancouver or Yakima offices.

• The program director will report to the deputy director and oversee two existing programs in the organization: the Washington New Americans citizenship program and the English Innovations adult English program.
• The campaigns and organizing director will report to the deputy director and oversee OneAmerica and OneAmerica Votes’s grassroots organizing and leadership development program, which are rooted in building powerful, leader-led issue campaigns across Washington state and at the federal level.

You can apply via the links above. The desired start date for both positions is May 5, 2025.

DSHS Statewide Refugee Advisory Council Vacancies

The DSHS Statewide Refugee Advisory Council helps ensure the coordination of services for refugees and immigrants and raises awareness of issues that affect refugee and immigrant communities throughout Washington state. The RAC has two membership vacancies open for application in Snohomish and Clark counties. Please email Hamed Hakimkhel (hakimkhel@dshs.wa.gov) if you or anyone from your organization is interested in applying.

Stay Involved

Events, Webinars and Trainings

Washington Ukrainian Welcoming Task Force

• 2-3 p.m. | Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
• To receive the meeting invitation, please complete ORIA’s Stakeholder Contact Form.

Quarterly Community Consultations

• King County, 2-3:30 p.m. | Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
• Benton and Franklin Counties, 1-2:30 p.m. | Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
• Spokane County, 9:30-11 a.m. | Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
• Clark County, 1-2:30 p.m. | Thursday, June 12, 2025.
• South Puget Sound, 10-11 a.m. | Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
• North Puget Sound, 9-10 a.m. | Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
• To receive the meeting invitation for your county, please complete ORIA’s Stakeholder Contact Form.

For more resources for refugees and immigrants in Washington state, visit ORIA’s resource tool.

Contact ORIA

Please direct your inquiries to ORIAinfo@dshs.wa.gov.  

More information about ORIA programs and services can be found on ORIA’s webpage.

If you would like to receive other communications from ORIA or change your communication preferences, please complete this contact form.

The monthly ORIA newsletter is distributed within DSHS to ORIA service providers and other external partners and stakeholders. If you’d like to share your content on this platform, please complete this form. ORIA reserves the right to determine appropriate content to publish.