|
|
|
Equity Forum. A huge thank you to everyone who attended + participated in our Equity Forum and made it such a beautiful event. We learned, we laughed, we cried, we ate some delicious food, we enjoyed some art, and we built / strengthened relationships. The key question that left us with some food for thought: what does it look like to move away from organizing around identity politics and move towards organizing around our political futures? If you missed the event, learn more about our keynote speaker Alán Peláez López and Rebecca Sanchez, the artist who did our event flyer and screenprinting on site.
SB4 Resources. SB4 (mandatory minimum) from special session 3 went into effect on Tuesday, February 6. SB4 (unlawful entry) from special session 4 will go into effect on March 5. Read on below to learn more about SB4 information sessions our office will host in partnership with Catholic Charities of Central Texas. There is also an SB4 toolkit that community groups have put together with tons of helpful information available in different languages. |
|
|---|
|
|
- Texas authorities have started arresting migrants at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas and charged them with criminal trespassing, marking the first arrests of migrants since the state took control of the area at the US-Mexico border. The law enforcement officials made the arrests pursuant to SB 4, a new Texas law that gives local law enforcement the authority to arrest and detain migrants.
- The impacts of Operation Lone Star: how driving somebody from one Texas city to another can result in a prison sentence.
- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that federal agents may cut through state-installed razor wire on the Texas shores of the Rio Grande meant to deter unauthorized immigration.
- In related news, Texas is taking advantage of a loophole in the recent Supreme Court ruling and is continuing to put up more razor-wire fencing along the Rio Grande riverbank.
- Gov. Abbott recently hosted a group of visiting Republican governors at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, TX. The governors praised Abbott for his methods, such as building a border wall, installing wire and placing a string of buoys in the river. Abbott has doubled down on enforcement at the border amid an escalating feud with the federal government over who controls part of the Texas-Mexico border in Eagle Pass.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that due to a year-old initiative to expedite deferred action and encourage migrant workers to report abuse, one-thousand workers have received protection in the first year of the program. The program, launched in January 2023, is designed to allow migrant workers to report workplace violations without fear of deportation, and to become eligible for deferred action.
- Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas recently announced the extension and redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Once granted TPS, an individual also cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of their immigration status in the United States. However, having TPS does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status.
- A new report details that there is a serious shortage of immigration attorneys. Five years ago, noncitizens had found attorneys in 65 percent of all pending cases in the Court’s backlog. Today, this proportion has dropped to just 30 percent.
-
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a national civil rights organization, has filed ten lawsuits over the past seven years against various financial institutions for alleged discrimination against DACA recipients who were denied loans. The latest is a central California credit union.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released their final fee rule. The USCIS fee increase affects most forms, making it more expensive to request many employment-based and family-based immigration benefits.
- Nearly 25% of immigrants who are eligible to naturalize have not yet done so. Of the 7.4 million immigrants who are eligible to naturalize, the largest numbers reside in California (1.9 million), Texas (789,500), New York (714,200), Florida (574,800), and Illinois (290,800).
- Amid inaction from the federal government on immigration policy and growing calls for action from localities, some state legislatures are taking a proactive role in welcoming immigrants and refugees. Many state legislatures have introduced numerous proposals advancing immigrant-inclusive policies, with the American Immigration Council already tracking over 200 immigration-related bills.
- The $118 billion Supplemental Funding Bill was recently unveiled by a group of senators. The bill includes money for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It gives the president the authority to “shut down the border” if the number of migrants seeking asylum reaches above a certain daily or weekly limit. It also raises the bar for migrants to qualify for asylum. The bill ultimately failed.
|
|
|---|
|
Discover how to attract more customers at EGBI’s Marketing Roundtable! 🚀We will meet every 2nd Thursday of the month from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Our next session is on the 8th of February. Register:https://egbi.org/mkt-roundtable/
Descubre cómo atraer a más clientes en el Encuentro de Marketing de EGBI! 🚀 Nos reuniremos cada segundo jueves del mes de 9 a 10:30 AM. Nuestra próxima sesión es el 8 de febrero. Regístrate:https://egbi.org/es/encuentro-de-marketing/
|
|
|---|
|
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations and access to effective communication can be provided upon request. To make a request for interpretation, or if you have any questions, please contact: Rocío Villalobos at rocio.villalobos@austintexas.gov or 512-974-7972; VRS: RelayTexas711
La ciudad de Austin se compromete a cumplir con la ADA (Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades). Si se solicita, se puede brindar hospedaje y acceso a una comunicación eficaz. Para realizar una solicitud o si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con: Rocío Villalobos escribiendo a rocio.villalobos@austintexas.gov o marcando al 512-974-7972. VRS (servicio por video para personas con discapacidad): RelayTexas711
|
|
|---|
|
Wednesday, February 14 @ 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM CST
Mental Health First Aid (adult)
*virtual training*
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training that provides participants with knowledge on the common signs of mental health and substance use challenges, as well as practical ways to support someone experiencing a mental health challenge. This session is tailored for people who work with immigrants and/ or refugees. Learn more and register here. |
|
|---|
|
|
Wednesday, February 21 @ 1:00 PM CST
Learning From Welcoming Week in Mexico
Organizations in Mexico hosted the first national Welcoming Week in Latin America in 2023. Led by Sin Fronteras and with the support and partnership of Welcoming America, the campaign resulted in 27 events across three major cities in Mexico and large-scale social and traditional media activation. At a time when Mexico is seeing exponential growth in the number and diversity of immigrants settling in Mexico, the campaign came at a critical moment to build social cohesion and advance a positive public narrative of welcoming communities.
Institutions including government and civil society organizations in the U.S. and across the world will benefit from learning from the creative approaches used during Welcoming Week Mexico 2023. Simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish will be provided. Learn more and register here.
|
|
|---|
|
|
Thursday, February 22 @ 6:00 PM CST
SB4 Train the Trainer *virtual option available
Please join Texas Organizing Project and Resilient Advocates Collective with special support from the ILRC and Woorijuntos for a Train-the-Trainer workshop on SB4! The train-the-trainers workshop is a hybrid event.
This training is designed to equip advocates of all backgrounds with the skills needed to lead effective know-your-rights presentations. In this training, you will learn strategies and tips for conducting know-your-rights presentations and how to use the resources available in the SB4 Toolkit created by Texas immigration advocacy organizations. Please register for the training here. |
|
|---|
|
|
Saturday, February 24 @ 10:30 AM CST
Equity Action Team Meeting
Turner-Roberts Recreation Center - 7201 Colony Loop Drive
Stay tuned as we work to finalize the agenda. RSVP here.
In the meantime, we are looking for feedback regarding our Equity Action Team meetings! We would love your help with shaping the future of EAT. Take the EAT survey here. |
|
|---|
|
|
Attend our Free Basic Estate Planning Clinic. Walk away with a Will, Power of Attorney, Advance Directive, and more! Interpretation or transportation assistance may be available upon request.
For registration or questions, please contact the Asian American Resource Center at 512-974-1700 or aarc@austintexas.gov. Appointment only. Must be 50 years or older, have an income need, and does not have a will or estate plan. This is in collaboration with AGE of Texas, Clayton and Ramirez Law Firm, and Sanchez Law. |
|
|---|
|
Monday, February 26 @ 3:00 PM CST
Immigrant Services Network of Austin monthly meeting
Austin ISD Headquarters - 4000 S I-35 Frontage Road, Austin, TX 78704
Room 219
Agenda:
- Austin ISD - enrollment and school-based services for unaccompanied minors
- Preparing for March retreat (Monday, March 25, 2024)
Participants can park pretty much anywhere in the large parking lot that doesn't say reserved or have a number on the space. Guests should enter through the doors facing Ben White Blvd; the rear entrance (facing walmart) is for employees only and you will be locked out if you try to enter there. Plan on checking in with the front desk and getting a visitor badge. The meeting will be held on the 2nd floor where there are professional development learning spaces.
|
|
|---|
|
|
Thursday, February 29 @ 1:00 PM CST
Webinar: USCIS Fee Rule - Updates and Changes
On January 31, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released a final fee rule that will go into effect April 1, 2024. This webinar will discuss the provisions of the new rule including increased fees, expanded fee exemptions, and changes to fee waiver policy and practice. Register here. |
|
|---|
|
|
National Partnership for New Americans is launching a new Community Navigator & Inclusion Institute! The Institute offers a suite of offerings ideal for local, and state government partners and nonprofit organizations who work with immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker communities.
Building on the success of the national Community Navigators for Immigration Legal Services model established by NPNA in 2014, this new institute will bring training and curricula that have been proven effective, adaptable and applied by diverse organizations to better meet the needs of our immigrant and refugee communities outside of our membership. Learn more here. |
|
|---|
|
|
Community Advancement Network
Seeking Members for the Community Council
The Community Council has opened up the application for membership! They are looking for people who are passionate about advancing equity and wellbeing in the Austin Travis County area and who have an interest in learning about community organizations, making recommendations to the City's policy makers, cross sector planning, hosting community dialogue forums, and would like opportunities to network with local decision makers. Learn more here.
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
 | | |
|  |
|
|
|
|
