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August Immigrant Affairs Update |
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Every Wednesday, August 30 - November 15 @ 6:00pm CST
FREE ESL Classes
Spicewood Springs Branch Library
8637 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78759
Join us for FREE ESL Classes, hosted by Austin Public Library. No registration is required. Bring a notebook and a pencil to take notes. If you have any questions, please call 512-974-3800. |
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cada miércoles, del 30 de agosto al 15 de noviembre a las 6:00pm CST
clases de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) GRATIS
Biblioteca Spicewood Springs
8637 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78759
Únase a nosotros para clases de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) GRATIS, organizadas por la Biblioteca Pública de Austin (Austin Public Library). No es necesario registrarse para las clases. Traiga una libreta y un lápiz para tomar notas. Si tiene cualquier pregunta, por favor marque al 512-974-3800.
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Get Your Enhanced Library Card Today!
We are excited to share that the Enhanced Library Card pilot program has officially begun! This has been a successful collaboration between Austin Public Library, the Equity Office and several other city departments and community organizations. Stop by one of the three pilot locations and get yours today and help us spread the word within your communities.
- Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Ln
- St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave.
- Southeast Branch, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd.
Read local news coverage about the card:
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Volunteer Hosts Needed at Casa Marianella!
The shelter at Casa Marianella is currently over capacity and they are looking for ATX locals to host residents for 3 months. You will make a big difference in someone’s life and this is a great opportunity if you are interested in cultural connection and language learning. If you live centrally or have access to a bus line, you would be an especially great fit! If interested, please reach out to Jennifer Long at jlong@casamarianella.org |
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- Governor Abbott took over a park in Eagle Pass for the purposes of Operation Lone Star after the city's mayor signed an affidavit declaring the park his private property. In response, community members organized and got the city council to rescind the affidavit.
- Texas troopers employed by Gov. Abbott’s border patrol initiative were instructed to push children into the Rio Grande and deny migrants water in extreme heat, according to emails sent by a state employee.
- A body was recovered from the floating buoys Gov. Abbott recently had installed in the water boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. Another body belonging to a 20-year-old from Honduras was also found near the buoys. This section of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass is already one of the most dangerous areas to cross due to changing currents, and the buoys and razor wire Texas has installed along the river have only made it more dangerous.
- The Biden administration recently launched a new immigration program authorizing certain Central Americans and Colombians to enter the U.S. as an alternative to border crossings. The program, called the Family Reunification Parole Process, will grant work permits to eligible migrants from Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who have U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident relatives who have filed visa applications on their behalf.
- Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate reintroduced the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA). The bill would fix a problem that will only get more urgent: tens of thousands of Afghans who were evacuated or fled to the United States when the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban retook control in 2021 have no viable way to apply for permanent legal status in the U.S., leaving them in limbo.
- A federal judge struck down the Biden administration's new rules for asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The judge also stayed his decision for 14 days, in order to give the government time to appeal the decision.
- The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) is intended to serve as a new resource for advocates, legal representatives, and family members of people who are in detention to file complaints about misconduct or poor living conditions in U.S. immigration detention and custody. OIDO's online case intake portal - myOIDO - is now available for submissions nationwide. This rollout allows users to submit complaints to OIDO via the portal for more than 500 ICE and CBP facilities across the United States.
- Canada announced a new program in which H-1B holders in the United States would be able to apply for “open” work permits in Canada and work for virtually any employer. The initiative is seen as an attempt to lure highly-educated foreign workers who are dissatisfied with the US immigration process. The new program would allow H-1B visa holders to move to Canada without a job and look for one upon their arrival. They also would be allowed to apply for permanent residency based upon Canada's immigration system.
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Monday, August 14 @ 3:00pm CST
ISNA Regular Meeting
At the next regular meeting of ISNA, we will have presentations by Every Texan (overview of legislative session) and AVANCE (family literacy program). There will also be an opportunity for attendees to provide updates about their respective work. Join the meeting at this link.
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Wednesday, August 16 @ 9:00am-1:00pm CST
miércoles, 16 de agosto @ 9:00am-1:00pm CST
Dove Springs Rec Center
5801 Ainez Dr, Austin, TX 78744
Join Austin - Travis County EMS for a pop-up clinic full of resources for the community. Resources we will have available include:
- CommUnity Care Clinic
- MAP cards
- Veteran services
- Substance use resources and treatment
- HIV / Hep C testing
- COVID vaccines
- service point cards / ID documents
- Mental health services
- Pet supplies and food
- Coordinated assessments for housing
- Employment opportunities
- Enhanced library card from Austin Public Library - ID made on site
Únase a Austin - Travis County EMS para una clínica de recursos para la comunidad. Los recursos que tendremos disponibles incluyen:
- CommUnity Care Clinic (clínica comunitaria)
- Tarjetas MAP
- Asistencia para veteranos
- Tratamiento de drogas y recursos
- Pruebas de HIV / Hepatitis C
- Vacunas contra COVID (y más)
- Tarjetas de "service point"
- Servicios de salud mental
- Artículos y comida para mascotas
- Evaluaciones coordinadas para la vivienda
- Oportunidades de empleo
- Programa de identificación nuevo (tarjeta de biblioteca mejorada). La tarjeta de identificación se imprimirá durante el evento.
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Wednesday, August 16 @ 1:00pm CST
Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up (District 3)
Cepeda Branch Library - 651 N. Pleasant Valley Road
The City of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) will host monthly Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up events in each of Austin’s City Council Districts throughout 2023. These events are designed to help equip Austinites with the information, tools and resources needed in emergency situations. Community members are invited to attend these three-hour open house style events.
At these events, Austinites will learn more about geographical risks in their area and how to prepare for them, and the four steps to preparedness: make a plan, build a kit, know your neighbors, and stay informed. The first 50 guests will receive a basic emergency preparedness supply kit while supplies last, limit one per person / household.
Interpretation services will be available in Spanish and ASL at each event. The public can request additional language interpreters by calling 3-1-1 at least five days before the event you wish to attend. View the full schedule here.
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Tuesday, August 22 and Tuesday, August 29 @ 9:30am CST
Know Your Rights Training Series
Join the National Immigration Project and Texas Civil Rights Project in a two-part Know Your Rights series addressing law enforcement encounters in Texas. The trainings will be recorded.
Part 1 - August 22 at 9:30-11 AM CST
This training will provide an overview of your rights in encounters with state and federal law enforcement, either on the street, while driving, at immigration checkpoints, or if law enforcement tries to enter a shelter or workplace. Please register here.
Part 2 - August 29 at 9:30-11 AM CST
This training will focus on how to document encounters with law enforcement and precautionary measures to protect sensitive information. Please register here. |
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Wednesday, August 23 @ 1:00pm CST
Community Wellness Orientation Training
*register by Friday, August 18
The Community Wellness Orientation allows participants to reflect on their existing cultural definitions and perceptions of mental health and wellness. Participants will examine how their own experiences shape their thinking and behaviors surrounding mental health, how these experiences compare with mainstream American practices, and ways to identify and articulate refugee needs within these contexts.
USCRI Texas' Refugee Wellness team wants to empower local organizations and community stakeholders to feel confident in supporting refugees building resiliency and encouraging them to seek help for mental health challenges. Trainings are provided free of cost and we offer social work CEUs! Register here. |
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Wednesday, August 30 @ 6:00pm CST
Equity Action Team Meeting
Street-Jones Building - 1000 E. 11th Street
4th Floor, Conference Room 400A
We are excited to have you for our in-person August EAT meeting! Please join us Wednesday, August 30, 2023 starting at 6pm. We'll connect over a delicious dinner and get our meeting started by 6:30pm.
This month, we will be joined by Sue Spears, President of the Bethany Cemetery Association. Ms. Spears will discuss the cemetery's history, its cultural significance, and recent development threats to the cemetery, which is the resting place of many formerly enslaved persons and buffalo soldiers.
We will also be playing jams to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip hop's creation, recognizing its profound expression, impact, and cultural significance within communities of color. Register here.
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Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, August 23 @ 11:59pm CST
AARC Night Bazaar Participant Applications
The City of Austin's Asian American Resource Center (AARC) is hosting a Night Bazaar! The bazaar is a celebratory event to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the AARC. The family-friendly outdoor event will include food vendors, merchandise vendors, community organizations, activities, and games.
AARC invites the community to participate and submit an application for food vendors, merchandise vendors, and community organization booths. Learn more and apply here. |
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Little Amal and Welcoming America hosted a webinar on June 8 to build a coalition of partners for the upcoming U.S. tour of 35+ cities and towns kicking off during Welcoming Week. Learn about partner activities both before and during Amal's visit as well as efforts and opportunities for local communities to ensure a lasting impact for refugees and newcomers. Little Amal will be visiting Austin in mid-late October!
Watch the recording here. Sign up as a partner for Little Amal's stop in Austin here.
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Mark your calendars: #WelcomingWeek2023 is September 8-17
Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. Visit the Welcoming Week website to access the toolkit and event guide. |
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