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A gift of quilts

Posted By | ELanglois

A woman dropped by Catholic Charities in Portland in late November and donated 12 handmade quilts for our clients.

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A book of immigration law under a gavel

Public Charge: What You Need to Know/Carga Pública: Lo Que Debe Saber

On October 3, Catholic Charities hosted a Facebook Live event in an attempt to clarify some of the misinformation going around about the recent public charge rule change. Kat Kelley (Director, Strategic Initiatives), John Herrera (Director, Immigration Legal Services), and Sarah Purce (Assistant Director, Immigration Legal Services) presented important information in English and Spanish: What…
John Herrera gives legal advice

Catholic Charities featured in "Amid immigration crackdown, undocumented domestic abuse victims fear reporting abuse, seeking assistance"

In her highly anticipated follow-up to “‘A blanket of fear’: How deportations affect children,” the Catholic Sentinel’s Katie Scott examines the relationship between undocumented immigrants and local police and why many survivors of domestic abuse don’t feel safe going to the police. Read the full article here or in the October 4 issue of the…
Hands gripped around a chain-link fence.

Our Crisis of Character

I spent a week touring and working in respite centers along the southern border. While we were there, our team tried to help arrivals work through the trauma they had experienced, hoping to alleviate their intense anxiety. In this report, I walk you through the challenges faced by asylum seekers coming to the U.S. and…
View from the State Capitol in Salem

What Is Public Charge? The State of Oregon Addresses Frequently Asked Questions on DHS Rule Change

Background: On August 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it has finalized the new public charge rule. The new rule will take effect October 15, 2019; it is not retroactive. Changes include, but are not limited to, expanding the kinds of public benefits considered in the public charge test. Under the…
A Rohingya man accesses information about atrocities that occurred in his village

OPB Explores the Challenges Faced by Rohingya Genocide Survivors in Portland

“There are complications [for resettling Rohingya people in the U.S.],” says by Arya Surowidjojo at OPB. “Khin Niang Cing, Hussein’s resettlement case manager with Catholic Charities of Oregon, said Hussein managed to bring his children’s birth certificates but not his marriage certificate. “This missing document, compounded by the slashing of the refugee resettlement quota by…
John Herrera gives legal advice

Catholic Charities, Portland City Council, others among those providing legal services to local immigrants

Using property tax collections, the Portland City Council approved $500,000 last year to provide legal aid to local immigrants. With lawyers from Catholic Charities, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Immigration Counseling Service, Innovation Law Lab, and Metropolitan Public Defender, more than 341 people were provided lawyers to represent them in deportation hearings, and 105 (including 23…

Migration Services Featured in "'A blanket of fear’: How deportations affect children"

A recent article in the Catholic Sentinel discusses the destructive effects of deportations and detentions on children and families. The Catholic Sentinel’s Katie Scott spoke to Pope Francis Center Director Vanessa Briseño, Intercultural Counseling Center Manager Lucrecia Suarez, Immigration Legal Services Director John Herrera, and retired immigration judge Michael Bennett. Read the article on their…

Resources for Those at Risk of Detention or Removal

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) has developed two resources that may be useful in the event of a detention or removal attempt: “Know Your Rights” cards in several languages and the rapid response toolkit. If you need further assistance, please contact our Immigration Legal Defense team at (503) 542-2855 or by emailing immigrationemail@ccoregon.org.
Catholic Charities agency staff welcomes refugees at Portland International Airport

Refugee Resettlement Services Featured in "Oregon may help offset federal cuts to refugee support"

The Catholic Sentinel’s Katie Scott reports on the importance of HB2508 for Catholic Charities and other resettlement agencies as well as for the refugee community in Oregon. Read the full article at the Catholic Sentinel.
Dr. Baher Butti

The Immigrant Story - Dr. Baher Butti

Catholic Charities of Oregon employee Dr. Baher Butti’s bloodline of activism runs strong.