PUBLISHED BY:
For most resettled refugees, the next steps in their immigration process are explained during cultural orientation. But many newcomers may still feel overwhelmed or uncertain about the process. This guide is designed to support refugee service providers—including caseworkers, managers, and others who work closely with Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible individuals—in strengthening their everyday processes […]
PUBLISHED BY:
This guide summarizes, as of May 2026, 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, […]
PUBLISHED BY:
This document summarizes the state of available evidence regarding the impacts of legal services for immigrants. What is meant by “immigration legal services”? Immigration legal services provide guidance and representation to clients navigating the immigration process, such as visa applications (“change of status”) and green card applications (“adjustment of status”). Legal services providers guide their […]
PUBLISHED BY:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expected to make policy changes that will affect many of the refugees we serve. This information is critical for clients to understand, and we encourage you to share it widely so affected individuals can seek legal assistance when needed. For more resources on supporting clients during this time, […]
PUBLISHED BY:
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 […]
PUBLISHED BY:
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 […]
TOPIC:
SUBTOPIC:
PUBLISHED BY:
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 […]
PUBLISHED BY:
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 […]
PUBLISHED BY:
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 […]
PUBLISHED BY:
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 […]
