Council on American-Islamic Relations of WA

Now more than ever, it is critical that the Muslim community has access to high quality culturally competent immigration representation. That’s why we’re excited to officially launch the CAIR Washington Immigrant Rights Center (IRC) where we will offer comprehensive immigration services from our office for the first time in our 17 years.

But we need your help building it.

By June 1st, our goal is to offer pro bono (free) or low-cost legal assistance for immigration matters. Our office will assist individuals with:

·        Citizenship applications
·        Adjustment of status
·        Family petitions
·        Asylum
·        Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
·        Employment Authorization

Of the 750 discrimination cases received by CAIR Washington over the past three years, over half of them have been immigration related. Our community has been continually targeted with anti-Muslim policies like mass surveillance, watchlists, immigration application delays, deportations and detentions, and the racist Muslim Ban. President Trump’s latest proclamation to profoundly restrict immigration to the U.S. is just another thread in a long line of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant policies enacted in the U.S.

Here in Washington, roughly one in seven of our state’s residents is an immigrant, while one in eight is a native-born U.S. citizen with at least one immigrant parent. Approximately 70% of our Muslim community members are either an immigrant or first generation.

With your help building the Immigrant Rights Center, CAIR Washington will be able to provide the following services:

·   Citizenship applications: Assisting community members in completing and filing their applications for citizenship and getting movement on delayed applications.

·   Adjustment of status applications: Assisting individuals with visitors’ visas, student visas, non-immigrant work visas, or other temporary visas to obtain legal permanent resident status or to switch to another category of temporary status.

·   Family petitions: Assisting U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents in sponsoring and obtaining visas for family members. For those facing extended delays on pending visa applications, we will help them fight for their right to a decision and help reunite their families sooner. 

·   Asylum: Supporting asylum-seekers in navigating credible fear interviews while working to increase our capacity to accompany individuals through the asylum application process.

·   Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Assisting community members applying for TPS, completing renewal applications, and navigating the employment authorization and renewal process. 

Meeting our goal of $50,000 will provide us the seed funds necessary to establish an Immigrant Rights Center that can support 100 clients. This Ramadan, with your support and multiple online campaigns, we hope to raise $125,000 to establish a fully operational center that can support 250 immigrant clients

As the Trump administration continues to wage war on Muslims and immigrants in our state, we’re stepping up to meet the needs of our community.

Will you help us rise to the challenge this Ramadan?