Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates / Defensores de los Derechos de los Inmigrantes del Condado de Jefferson
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Educational Fellowships

12/19/2019

 
Immigrants Rising just released 2020 List of Scholarships and Fellowships that undocumented students can apply to—now containing 344 undergraduate and 302 graduate/post-graduate scholarships and fellowships, including 425 for non-DACA!

Learn More: immigrantsrising.org/2020scholarships  or visit their Facebook page.
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December JCIRA Newsletter

12/19/2019

 
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Our mission is to support the rights of immigrants and their families, giving priority to those who live or work on the Olympic Peninsula and immigrant detainees within Washington State, through access to legal services, standing witness, family support, community education and advocacy for local, state and national issues.​
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Upcoming Events!!

 
1.  NO JCIRA GENERAL MEETING IN DECEMBER
2.
Next JCIRA Gen. Mtg.  Tuesday Jan. 21., 4:30-6pm. For meeting location, please contact jcirawa@gmail.com
3.  Thursday, Dec. 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration (see box below)
​
​Join in Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration!

 

On Thursday, December 12, in honor of the Mexican patron saint, Our Lady of Guadalupe***, you are warmly invited to walk with the immigrant community or cheer them on along their procession route. See all the children marching and dancing in their finest regalia! Enjoy great Mariachi music!
 
People will meet at 11:00 in front of La Isla and Quimper Mercantile, with the procession starting shortly after. Please join in. Otherwise, line the parade route to encourage and show your support. (Water St, left on Taylor, up the hill on Washington, Harrison to St. Mary’s Church)
 
At the church there will be a mass and rosary with mariachis from 1:00 until 2-2:15.
 
Or come back for the POT LUCK with more Mariachi music following the mass at 2:15. Please bring food even if you can’t stay, but do stay if you can.  A wonderful celebration is guaranteed. 


EVERYONE IS INVITED!
 
****According to legend, in 1531, during the early colonial years of Mexico’s history, the Virgen Mary appeared to an indigenous boy named Juan Diego in the area outside of Tenochtitlán, which is now Mexico City.  She was dark-skinned and spoke the native language of central Mexico, Nahuatl. On the site, a cathedral was built to honor this vision of Mary. The Virgin n of Guadalupe, as she is known, soon became the patron saint of all of Mexico.  The day of her final visit to Juan Diego, December 12, has been an official national holiday in Mexico since 1859. In 1945 Pope Pious XXII crowned Our Lady of Guadalupe as “Empress of the Americas”.  She is seen as the champion of the underdog, of the Indigenous people, and of all those who lack power in society. She continues to be greatly revered and celebrated by Mexicans. 

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In Case You Missed It

(Highlights from JCIRA's monthly mtg in November)    

  • Election of new and renewing JCIRA board members
  • Membership forms and request for donations will be mailed & emailed in December. Membership expires at the end of each calendar year
  • There is NO December general meeting; the January meeting will be on Tuesday, 1/21.
  • Continued discussion of local community "sponsorship" (housing and food) for asylum seekers awaiting their court hearing
  • A short video made by ACLU regarding asylum seekers forced to wait in Mexico, and talking-points and phone #s for calls of protest to our congressional delegation
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Sponsorship -- An Opportunity for Our Community



JCIRA is trying to increase our impact by seeking to house one or more asylum seekers in the East Jefferson County area.  Those we are seeking to house have passed their first “credible fear interview” and now are awaiting their asylum hearings in immigration court.  They are in the US legally while going through this process.  Nevertheless, they are being held in detention until individuals or families can be found to house them for 3 to 12 months. (The immigration court system is slow!)

We are still in the research stage, but have located many resources and people to help—everything but the housing.  If you would like to know more about helping with this effort, please contact us at jcirawa@gmail.com or 360.531.2656.

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 End of Year Donation to JCIRA
 
We thought it couldn’t get much worse for immigrants, but it has.  Families at the border are still detained, and tens of thousands live on the streets in Mexico, waiting for the US asylum line that barely moves.  The racism inherent in this administration’s immigration policy becomes more and more blatant. The path to citizenship becomes harder and harder. Uncertainty and fear have become a constant companion for immigrants and their families as hardline immigration policy is replaced with even worse policy, often without Congressional approval.
 
JCIRA was formed in 2017 to provide positive support for immigrants living on the Olympic Peninsula, including those impacted by detention in Washington.  We are a small organization, but the need is great.  We have no paid staff, so except for basic organizational expenses, all donations go directly to support immigrants. 
 
With the help of local donors, in 2019 we:
  • Publicized and helped make available low-cost legal services to immigrants through collaboration with Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC).  We now have a fully functional office in Port Townsend to provide legal assistance.
  • Distributed [JW1] more than $13,000 to Peninsula immigrant families facing deportation or for emergency needs, $1000 bond money and $1000 for emergency relief at the border.
  • Expanded our Hotline service to Forks and affiliated with a  statewide hotline network.
  • Worked with immigrants at the Clallam Bay Correctional Center..
  • Organized frequent local rallies locally and at the NW Detention Center.
  • Met with law-enforcement, legislators and other leaders on behalf of immigrants
  • Worked closely with many local and regional activist and immigrant groups.
  
Your donation will help JCIRA respond to new challenges.  Donations of $20 (or less for limited income) include a 2020 JCIRA membership.  How to give:
 
1.   Donate online at www.jcira.org. We accept credit/debit card and Paypal
2.   Donate by mail by completing and returning the form below.
 
 
 Name: _____________________________________________________________
  
Address: ____________________________________________________________
 
                ☐I’d like to donate anonymously         ☐I’d like to learn about volunteering
 
   Email:  __________________________  Phone: __________________________
 
   Donation amount:    
         ☐  $20 (basic membership)   $☐ _____(limited income: what you can afford)   
         ☐ $50    ☐ $75    ☐ $100      ☐ Other:_________
 
 
JCIRA is a federally registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.  Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by the lRS.  Please write checks to JCIRA and mail with this form to PO Box 647, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
 
 
To give through the UGN annual campaign,
click here https://www.givejefferson.org and scroll through catalog to JCIRA entry.

 [JW1] 
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JCIRA Needs!!

Volunteer needed - Does anyone have federal tax experience and is willing to occasionally assist immigrants needing help with their taxes?  Please contact Libby Palmer  libbypalmer2@gmail.com
 
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Research needed  - Have you been following the presidential candidates' campaigns?   Have you read their platforms on immigration?  JCIRA cannot and will not endorse any political candidates but it is important to share immigration information with others.  Contact Libby Palmer, libbypalmer2@gmail.com if interested
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Other News
 
1. Port Townsend Priest Ordered to Leave Country
An excellent local article giving details of the USCIS letter to Father Peter.
https://www.ptleader.com/stories/pt-priest-ordered-to-leave-country,66497

2.  USCIS Proposes Drastically Increased Fees for Common Immigration Applications.  COMMENT NOW - DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 16
The url links to the official governmental site for comments.  Phone messages and postcards are not accepted.


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    Emergency Funds Due to Covid-19 are Needed!
    Donate Emergency Funds Here

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    Washington HOTLINE : 
    1-844-RAID-REP
    ​(1-844-724-3737)

    Jefferson & Clallam County: 
    ​
    Rapid Response Team (RRT)
    Hotline: 360-531-2656

    For more information on Deportation Defense Click Here

    Donate to JCIRA!

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    JCIRA

    We are an immigrant rights advocacy non-profit in the North Olympic Peninsula of Washington State

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  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About JCIRA
    • JCIRA in the News
    • Board members
  • What We Do
    • Free/Low-Cost Legal services
    • Fund
    • Rapid Response Team
    • COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund
  • Get Involved
    • JCIRA Community Calendar
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Washington Resources
    • Community Partners
    • Workshops
  • Petitions