About Us
Founded in 2017 by four women, Oasis Legal Services provides legal assistance with asylum, residency, naturalization, VAWA, and family petitions for LGBTQ+ immigrants. We have over 35 years of combined professional experience in immigration legal services for the LGBTQ+ community. Since opening, we've helped over 2,700 queer and trans immigrants navigate immigration relief and benefits. In addition to providing direct legal representation, Oasis provides holistic social services to existing clients.
Oasis is an active organizational member of over a dozen California statewide and national coalitions aimed at improving policies and protections for LGBTQ+ immigrants. We are also proud to partner with educational institutions across the country to support the next generation of legal and social work professionals.
We are an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and are not affiliated with or funded by the U.S. government.
Our Approach
Oasis Legal Services provides quality, holistic and trauma-informed immigration and social services to low-income LGBTQ+ immigrants and is the leading organization on the West Coast championing statewide and national policies benefitting LGBTQ+ immigrants.
We empower LGBTQ+ immigrants — Oasis specializes in trainings and engage in movement lawyering that spotlight the unique experiences of our clients (those fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries based on their sexuality, gender, and/or HIV status).
Our advocacy efforts include:
(1) Individual Advocacy: Empowering queer and trans immigrants to fight for their rights as plaintiffs in lawsuits and preparing them to share their own experiences when ready
(2) Impact Litigation and Partnerships for Policy Advocacy: As organizational plaintiffs, we challenge laws that infringe upon the rights of LGBTQ+ immigrants and we actively serve in over 10 different coalitions (regional, statewide, and national), addressing policies from Food Justice to Health Access, elevating the experiences of queer and trans immigrants
(3) Training and Capacity Building: Our training catalog includes topics like “LGBTQ+ Asylum Law,” “Asylum for Those Living with HIV,” “Conducting Psychological Examinations for LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers,” and more — Contact us to learn more about our training catalog
(4) Data Sharing: We conduct client interviews, collect surveys, and gather anecdotes to support research-based reports and inform best practices and policy improvements to government entities, educational institutions, service providers, media, law firms, and others
Meet Our Community
Jesus & Jorge
Jesus and Jorge fled Mexico after facing discrimination, bullying, and rejection for being gay. The couple met at San Francisco Gay Pride in 2012 and married in 2016. Oasis staff member Maria Elena supported them from day one, thoroughly explaining the asylum process step by step. Since gaining asylum, Jesus secured stable employment and feels like he no longer has to hide his sexuality. Jorge wakes up in the morning without fear of an ICE raid and being separated from his U.S. born son.
“I can be on the street and feel at ease and feel like no one is going to reject me or make fun of me.” - Jesus
Jorli & Her Son Joseph
Jorli faced many difficulties living in Mexico due to her sexuality, including humiliation and violent persecution. She fled to the US when she was 26. Her son Joseph was born here and is now in fourth grade. Before gaining asylum, Jorli was always worried that she would be detained and that no one would know to pick up Joseph after school. As a mother, Jorli is no longer afraid to go out in public with her son, and they recently realized their long-time dream of going to a Giants game together.
“Working with the Oasis staff has changed my life, making me feel more safe and like I can be myself.” - Jorli