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This guide summarizes, as of November 2025, the benefits certain humanitarian immigrants may qualify for through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), including cash and medical assistance, employment services, English language instruction, and other federally funded programs. It outlines available supports for families with children, adults without minor children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities,…
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On September 18, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Federal Register Notice announcing implementation of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. Starting on October 20, 2025, the test will consist of 20 questions chosen from a pool of 128 rather than 10 questions from a pool of 100 in the 2008 version. Passing…
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Hosted on August 27th, 2025, the training was delivered by Maria Laura Arabbo, MA, Executive Director, VECINA; Charlotte English, Staff Attorney, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (TNJFON); Ashley DiGiore, MA, DOJ-Accredited Representative, Immigration Legal Services Program Director, Westside Community Center; Alexandra Miller, JD, Senior Advisor, VECINA; and Mamadou Balde, Immigration Legal Service Program Manager, Catholic…
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Hosted on July 9, 2025, the training was delivered byKristen Nilsen, Mentoring Attorney, VECINA; Patty First, Executive Coach, Patty First Coaching, LLC and Chief Strategy & Impact Officer, Raben; Jori McChesney, LHMC, NCC, Psychotherapist, West Seattle Wellness; and, Kathy Purnell, JD, PhD, Director and Managing Attorney of Human/Civil Rights Law Center. Working in a field…
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Hosted on April 9, 2025, the training was delivered by Jennie Guilfoyle, Legal Director, VECINA; Jessica Daly, Pro Bono Coordinator, HIAS Pennsylvania; Jayme Cassidy, Pro Bono Transactions Counsel, McDermott Wil and Emery LLP; Kristin Clarens, Legal Aid Justice Center; and, Theresa Dykoschak, The Advocates for Human Rights. Nonprofit immigration legal service providers often seek to…
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Hosted on January 22, 2025, the training was delivered by Chelsea Mack, Mentoring Attorney, VECINA; Ashley Sanchez, Supervising Attorney, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, Immigration Legal Services; Victoria Hamilton, Staff Attorney, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, Immigration Legal Services; and, Ted Oswald, Immigration Legal Services Manager, World Relief Sacramento. Immigration legal service providers often face…
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Navigating changes in immigration and border policies over recent years has created a complex landscape for immigrants arriving through various points of entry, such as the southern border and airports. These individuals may require documentation from multiple government agencies, making it challenging to determine their legal status and eligibility for services such as ORR benefits…
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In the world of immigration legal services, the importance of nurturing the next generation of attorneys cannot be overstated. In this blog post, we discuss one powerful way to do this: well-structured internship programs. Switchboard partner VECINA had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Sanchez, the supervising attorney for Migration and Refugee Services at Catholic…
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Newcomer service providers in the U.S. face challenges in meeting the diverse needs of ORR-eligible populations, including when serving non-refugee groups such as Cuban and Haitian entrants (CHEs). These newcomers have different eligibility criteria compared to refugees. Service providers frequently report unmet client needs and service gaps, leading to confusion and frustration as they strive…
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Hosted on August 21, 2024 the training was delivered by Ashley DiGiore, a program manager and accredited representative with VECINA’s Switchboard partnership and Michelle Morales, a contract mentoring attorney with VECINA’s Switchboard partnership. This virtual roundtable will feature a conversation among legal representatives who have represented Afghan asylum seekers. These experts will address three common…
