A Story of Hope
We are living through incredible times, and many of us are being asked to step up in different ways. I’m honored to share a story with you about an inspiring young man who really stepped up, despite incredible personal challenges. A few years ago, Andres fled violent…
What the election means for immigrants
It's a New Day Immigration has been a flashpoint of the U.S. political debate for decades. But in the last four years the anti-immigrant rhetoric has been unrelenting and it was again a hot button issue in the recent presidential campaign. The outgoing Administration…
Impact of Wildfires on Immigrant Communities
More than half a million people – about 12% of the state’s population – fled their homes as the wild fires burned more than 1 million acres in mid-September. Thousands of people have been displaced by these fires and hundreds of homes, businesses, and community spaces…
Reflections on my first year
August marked the one-year anniversary of my assuming the Executive Director role at ICS. I am the first ethnic minority, and, coming from a generational immigrant Mexican family and generational poverty, the first person with lived experience to lead this 40-year…
ICS Affirms that Black Lives Matter
As an organization solely organized to advance equity and social justice, ICS stands in solidarity with Black communities and allies advocating for justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless others. For generations, Black…
May Day Virtual DACA Renewal Clinic
Dear Friends, ICS will be offering a May Day Virtual DACA Renewal Clinic on May 1st for dreamers to renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. ICS is offering this free legal clinic in partnership with Catholic Charities, SOAR Immigration Legal…
Announcing Immigrant Emergency Relief Fund
I wish I had better news at a time when everyone is feeling anxiety, isolation, and fear about what’s yet to come because of the coronavirus pandemic. This pandemic is hitting hard, and it’s hitting some of us much harder than others. Failures in our safety net are…
ICS Response to COVID-19
Friends, We know that COVID-19 is on everyone’s minds right now so wanted to let you know what measures we are taking at ICS to keep clients, staff and interns safe. Effective today, we are closing our physical offices in Portland and Hood River and moving to a…