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Immigrant Inclusion Mini Grants. Our third round of immigrant inclusion mini grants is closing soon! This program seeks to provide unrestricted funds to community-driven initiatives (new projects or ongoing work) at three different grant award levels: $10,000, $20,000, and $30,000; with funds anticipated to be released starting in January 2025. You have until October 15th to apply for the immigrant inclusion mini grant! Learn more.
Support for Citizenship. Our next citizenship clinic is coming up on November 2nd. You still have one more chance to attend an information session on October 17th and learn more about the requirements to apply for naturalization and what the process will look like. You can find the flyers below and all the multilingual versions linked here. |
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- Go and Do Likewise, an Austin-area initiative of local Episcopal churches, helps immigrant families seeking asylum find stability through locating and furnishing short-term housing in the area.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter on Monday to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requesting the federal government confirm the citizenship status of more than 450,000 of Texas’ registered voters.
- The Haitian Bridge Alliance has filed criminal charges against Donald Trump and J.D. Vance over their baseless and malicious about Haitian migrants in Springfield, OH. The Haitian community has since received bomb threats due to the rampant spreading of this misinformation. People are speaking out against this and the Springfield and Haitian communities have also been receiving letters of support from across the country.
- At the end of September, the Biden administration announced the final version of its rule limiting access to the asylum process at the U.S. southern border. This policy has pushed thousands of asylum seekers to wait for a CBP One appointment in Mexico where they can be subject to extortion, torture, and assault. This explainer details the potential consequences and implications of the final rule.
- In early October, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that they will not be extending the legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants who were allowed to fly to the U.S. under CHNV, a sponsorship program designed to reduce unauthorized border crossings. Upon expiration of their parole status, parolees from all four countries (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) will lose employment authorization with no option for renewal and “will be given notices instructing them to apply for another immigration benefit or leave the county," officials have said.
- On Thursday, October 10th, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in two cases that will largely determine the futures of hundreds of thousands of children and their families in Texas. In Texas v. United States, the court will consider the legality of the DACA program. In Texas v. DHS, the court will will hear arguments as to whether impacted families can intervene as parties in a lawsuit brought by Texas and other states that seeks to block the "Keeping Families Together" parole program (parole in place).
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Monday, October 14 @ 1:00 PM CST
Breaking the Myths: Uncovering the Truth About Immigration
Amplify Credit Union Community Room - 2800 Esperanza Crossing, Building 2, Austin, TX 78758 (next to Top Golf near the Domain)
Join us for a powerful conversation on "Breaking the Myths - Uncovering the Truth About Immigration." Let’s come together on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and as we wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month, to challenge false narratives, celebrate the strength of our diverse communities, and build a future rooted in truth and understanding. RSVP here.
Panelists:
- Edna Yang, Co-Executive Director, American Gateways
- Sebastian Treviño, Immigration Attorney, Catholic Charities of Central Texas
- Maëlle Singh, Digital Influencer and Haitian immigrant
Moderator: Sofia Sandrea, BRAVE Young Leaders Alumnae (2020-2024), researcher of misinformation on media
Artistic Expressions: Daniel Llanes, Earth Culture Dancer |
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Wednesday, October 16 @ 12:00 PM CST
The Untold Story: Migrant Deaths Along the U.S.-Mexico Border
The Journal on Migration and Human Security will soon release a special edition issue, “Forced Migration, Deterrence, and Solutions to the Non-Natural Disaster of Migrant Deaths Along the US-Mexico Border and Beyond.” Authors of this special edition will discuss their articles and findings on migrant deaths along the US-Mexico border and beyond. They also will explain how US border enforcement and asylum policies can contribute to the number of deaths. RSVP here. |
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The FY25-26 Budget Input Sessions are facilitated by the City’s Joint Inclusion Boards and Commissions
- Join the budget input sessions and share your community’s needs and interests
- Influence advocacy priorities for all commissions
- Help shape fiscal year 2025-2026 budget recommendations
For interpretation or accessibility, email equity@austintexas.gov. Please request accommodations and/or language interpretation no later than five days before the meeting you wish to attend. 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.
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Thursday, October 17 @ 3:00 PM CST
Navigating the Ongoing Migrant Family Separation Crisis in the U.S.
Join us for a critical discussion on the ongoing crisis of migrant family separation in the United States. This expert panel will bring together leaders and advocates in immigration law, child advocacy, and border rights to explore the far-reaching impacts of current immigration policies, particularly on children and families. The conversation will delve into the legal, social, and policy aspects of this humanitarian crisis, focusing on practical solutions, the importance of collaboration, and the way forward. Learn more and register here. |
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Saturday, October 19 @ 10:30 AM CST
Equity Action Team Meeting
Virginia Brown Rec Center - 7500 Blessing Ave, Austin, TX 78752
The October Equity Action Team meeting will be an opportunity to:
- Learn about the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The City of Austin is a partner in the OGP - an international organization dedicated to making governments more open, inclusive, and responsive. It is a possibility for the EAT to be a community partner for some of the action plan commitments. Let's discuss and collaborate on this together.
- Collaborate together on budget input for 2026--we know it's early and that the 2025 budget was just passed. You can view the 2025 released budget here. Our boards and commissions need to hear from community about how the City should spend money in the 2026 budget.
- Updates on immigrant affairs issues, current programs like the Equity Mini Grant, our Community Voices + Choices events, and the Citizenship Clinic and information sessions. We reserve room for community shout outs and updates, too!
Brunch will be provided, with vegan options. RSVP here!
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On June 17, 2024, the Biden administration announced a “Keeping Families Together” parole-in-place process (KFT parole). KFT parole allows certain undocumented spouses and step-children of U.S. citizens to stay and work in the U.S. If granted KFT parole, this opens a path to apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card). Unfortunately, the process places broad restrictions on who can be granted KFT parole, unfairly penalizing immigrants who have had contact with the police and the criminal legal system. This unjustly leaves out many immigrants and is rooted in racist policing and prosecution practices which should not be used to tear families apart.
This national resource is meant to help immigrants understand how their contact with the criminal legal system can affect their ability to get KFT parole. View the FAQ in English. Spanish translation coming soon.
Update August 27, 2024: Due to a pending lawsuit filed against KFT parole, there is a temporary stay in place. This means that USCIS will still accept applications but they are unable to approve KFT parole during this time. Visit for www.uscis.gov/keepingfamiliestogether for more information.
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